ABUJA – Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has come under attack over his recent criticism of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with a chieftain of the party, Hon. Teejay Yusuf, urging him to fix the party’s internal crisis instead of pointing fingers at the electoral umpire.
Yusuf was reacting to Atiku’s allegation that the appointment of INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, was aimed at weakening opposition parties by creating divisions within their ranks.
He described the claim as an attempt to divert attention from the internal challenges facing the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“One of Atiku’s greatest leadership shortcomings is his inability to recognise the obvious challenges confronting the ADC. Rather than confronting these realities with honesty and taking responsibility, he consistently looks for others to blame,” Yusuf said.
The lawmaker said true leadership demands self-examination and accountability, insisting that political leaders must first address problems within their own parties before accusing external institutions.
“A leader who refuses to acknowledge evident problems within his immediate environment risks deepening the very crisis he claims to be addressing,” he added.
Yusuf maintained that disagreements over party leadership and structures were internal matters that should be resolved through democratic processes rather than blamed on INEC.
According to him, while the electoral commission is responsible for conducting elections, political parties must manage their internal affairs in line with their constitutions.
“Political disputes do not begin at INEC. They begin within political organisations when there are disagreements over leadership, structures and decision-making. The solution is not to blame institutions but to resolve those disputes through democratic means,” he said.
He also warned politicians against making allegations capable of eroding public confidence in democratic institutions without credible evidence.
While acknowledging that public officials should be held accountable, Yusuf said calls for transparency should not become an excuse to avoid difficult conversations about internal party shortcomings.
“Nigerians deserve leaders who can identify problems, accept responsibility and provide solutions. Leadership is not about finding someone else to blame whenever challenges arise; it is about having the courage to confront reality,” he stated.
Yusuf urged political parties to strengthen internal democracy, embrace issue-based politics and build public confidence in national institutions as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather pace.
