Atedo Peterside Criticises Former INEC Leadership, Describes Commission’s Performance as Embarrassing
Story: written by Myra October 28,2025
Influential banker and civic advocate Atedo Peterside has delivered a sharp rebuke of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under its former chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, describing the agency’s recent track record as a national embarrassment.
Peterside issued the criticism on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he reacted to the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan as the new INEC Chairman by President Bola Tinubu. Amupitan officially assumed office on October 23, following confirmation by the Senate, replacing Yakubu who had led Nigeria’s electoral body since 2015 and supervised two general elections.
Addressing his expectations for the new leadership, Peterside said he welcomes change but did not hold back regarding what he described as major flaws in how elections were managed in recent years.
According to him, the former commission failed to deliver transparent results and mishandled data uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). He claimed that anyone could find examples of altered vote figures and tampered result sheets on the platform.
He also criticised the judiciary, alleging that judges have not adequately protected democratic integrity by holding INEC accountable during election disputes. He argued that the courts often dismiss valid concerns, contributing to widespread loss of confidence among citizens.
Peterside expressed support for proposals by Senator Seriake Dickson seeking amendments to the Electoral Act that would place the burden of proof in election petitions on INEC rather than contestants.
He warned that if electoral and judicial credibility continues to weaken, citizens may eventually resort to self-help, creating instability and threatening Nigeria’s democratic system.
With many Nigerians already distrustful of the electoral process, Peterside’s remarks have revived urgent calls for comprehensive reforms to restore transparency, accountability, and public confidence in future elections.
