A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has accused President Bola Tinubu of appointing an overwhelming number of Yoruba people into the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the development could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general election.
Momodu argued that the alleged concentration of appointments was part of a broader effort to influence the electoral process and prevent the next general election from being free and fair.
He made the allegations during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday night, where he also maintained that the economic and political challenges confronting Nigerians were not limited to any particular ethnic group or region.
According to him, Yoruba people were experiencing hardships similar to those affecting residents of the Northwest, Northeast, North-Central, Southeast and South-South geopolitical zones.
According to him, “Tinubu has flooded INEC with people from Yorubaland. I’m partly from Osun; my mother is from Osun, and I can tell you that Osun people are among the most brilliant human beings you will ever find in Nigeria, and they are very serious about their democracy.
“They supported Adeleke because he performed, but that support is not unconditional. I can tell you today that if he tells them to vote for Tinubu, they will go against him and Tinubu.
“The most vociferous critics of Tinubu today are the Yoruba people. They are the most enlightened electorate, and I’m among these people. Unfortunately for them, when people say that Tinubu is only Yoruba, Tinubu is only about Lagos.
“Ninety per cent of those in Tinubu’s cabinet today are his cronies, so the Yoruba people are suffering just like those from the Northwest, Northeast, North-Central, Southeast, and South-South.
Momodu’s remarks highlight the political debate surrounding INEC’s perceived neutrality ahead of the 2027 elections, as opposition figures continue to raise concerns about the independence of electoral institutions and the fairness of the forthcoming polls.
