A former House of Representatives member, Hon. Teejay Yusuf, has challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to look inward and address the internal leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC), rather than blaming the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a strongly worded reaction on Tuesday in Abuja, Yusuf argued that political leaders must first address weaknesses within their own organisations before accusing external institutions of causing their difficulties.
His reaction followed recent allegations by Atiku that INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, was fueling factional issues within the ADC.
Atiku claimed that INEC was actively attempting to weaken opposition structures ahead of the 2027 general elections by granting parallel portal access codes to a rival faction.
Reacting, Yusuf dismissed Atiku’s allegations as an attempt to divert public attention from leadership failure.
He emphasized that effective political leadership demands accountability, self-reflection, and the responsibility to fix internal party struggles rather than scapegoating external bodies.
He said: “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.
“True leadership demands self-reflection, accountability, and the courage to address internal weaknesses before pointing fingers elsewhere.”
The former lawmaker said Nigeria’s democracy depends on strong institutions and responsible conduct by political actors, warning that unsubstantiated attacks on INEC could erode public confidence in the electoral system.
According to him, while INEC’s role is to regulate elections, political parties are responsible for managing their internal affairs through constitutional and democratic processes.
“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.
Yusuf added that Nigerians deserve leaders who can identify challenges, accept responsibility and provide solutions rather than shift blame.
He urged politicians preparing for the 2027 elections to focus on issue-based campaigns and respect for democratic institutions, saying the country’s democracy would be strengthened when leaders build confidence in the electoral process
