Politics
‘Former INEC Chairman, Mahmoud Will Be A Disaster For Nigeria’ – Epelle
The Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, has asserted that appointing the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmoud Yakubu, as an ambassador will be a disaster for Nigeria, especially if he ends up in the United States.
Naija News reports that Epelle, during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, described political appointments as a game of chess, stressing that the government does not respect the perception of citizens.
He expressed concern that President Bola Tinubu may not have been adequately guided regarding the appointment of Mahmoud, suggesting that the decision reflected indifference to public concerns.
According to him, Mahmoud might have negative consequences for Nigeria’s diplomatic relations, arguing that some Western nations view him as unfriendly to democratic processes.
Epelle emphasised that sending an envoy with “political baggage” could limit Nigeria’s engagement with host countries, as such envoys may be excluded from sensitive meetings or information channels.
He added that he had expected Mahmoud to retire to academic life or private pursuits, saying the nomination came as a surprise.
He said, “Political appointment in general is a political chess game. They don’t respect federal character. They don’t respect the perception of the people. They have no regard for what the people think.
Remember that these appointments are made by Cabal, just a handful of people that are very close to the President that will advise him let’s take this person, let’s take that person. And in the context of this, I don’t know who advised Mr. President about Mahmoud, who happens to be, I don’t deny friends, a good friend of mine.
“You know that I thought that prof should have been relaxing, maybe in his country home, or going back to the university to teach. I have no idea that he’s still interested in political office, but that’s up to him. That’s one appointment that with a pinch of salt.
I don’t think that the President was properly advised, but is almost a case of, I just don’t care. Everybody serves at my pleasure, and that’s the Mr. President. So he has a right to appoint but when you are doing this appointment, you must feel the pulse of the nations. You must understand the intricacies around diplomacy, knowing fully well that any country you send someone with political baggage, that country would treat that person almost like a whip. There’s certain information they will never give to the person. There are certain meetings that they will never call the person. So it happens.
“So for instance, if Mahmoud ends up in the US, it will be a disaster for us, because already they believe that he was not very friendly with democracy. I don’t know any of the Western countries, maybe these African countries, yes, can tolerate it, but that’s not a good nominee for the interest of what is happening around us, especially within the global circle.”
A prominent northern political figure has outlined what he believes is the only realistic path for Peter Obi to emerge as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
The politician, Umar Ardo, said Obi’s ambition within the ADC depends largely on the decision of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
According to him, Obi cannot clinch the party’s ticket unless Atiku withdraws from the race.
Ardo, who convenes the League of Northern Democrats and once sought the governorship of Adamawa State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), shared his views during a televised interview on Tuesday. He maintained that the current political structure of the ADC strongly favours Atiku.
Moreover, He explained that Atiku remains the dominant force within the party and would easily defeat any challenger if a primary election were held today.
Ardo insisted that repeated primaries would still produce the same outcome unless Atiku decides otherwise.
“Well, the ADC, as it is currently constituted, if it goes for primaries a hundred times, Atiku will win a hundred times. There is absolutely no doubt about that. How Peter Obi and his supporters react is what will determine the election,” Ardo said.
“I am not saying that Peter Obi cannot be the candidate of the party; however, he can only be the candidate of the party if Atiku steps down,” he added.
Despite his position, Ardo acknowledged Obi’s political relevance and described him as a major asset to the ADC. He noted that the former Anambra State governor commands a large and loyal voter base across the country.
He said Obi’s popularity, which he estimated at over six million votes, is one of the reasons the ADC is keen on keeping him within its fold. According to Ardo, the party sees Obi as a strategic figure who can strengthen its chances in the next election.
Peter Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party, recently aligned with the ADC after months of consultations with party stakeholders. His move sparked wide reactions within opposition circles and among his supporters nationwide.
Obi formally addressed his supporters during a political gathering held in Enugu on December 31, where he explained the motivation behind his decision to join the ADC. He described the move as a fresh political journey aimed at national renewal.
The ADC has recently attracted several heavyweight politicians from across the country. Among them are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Senate President David Mark.
These political actors are part of a growing opposition coalition seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
As a result, the group adopted the ADC as its common platform last year in a bid to present a united front.
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has warned that there will be a massive protest before the presidential election to destabilize the current government.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele made it known that the protest will start gradually, but the government will not take it seriously until it suddenly becomes huge.
The man of God stated that it is part of the strategy to bring down the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that it would affect the economy, while urging the president to take it very seriously.
“It’s going to be a massive protest, and it will start with five states. This is still part of the strategies to unseat the president if he isn’t careful. It’s a protest that can shut down the economy; the president shouldn’t take this for granted.”
The prophet advised the president to listen to security reports, especially from the DSS, as there would be certain things that would lead to the protest.
Furthermore, he revealed that some past leaders are currently planning against the current government.
“The protest will start gradually, but the government will not take it seriously. There are certain things that will cause protest that’s why the president must listen to the security, especially the DSS, because it will help him a lot.
“Some of the heads of government are plotting against the current administration in order to
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