‎Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Teejay Yusuf, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to address the internal crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) instead of blaming the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the party’s challenges.

‎Yusuf, who made the call on Tuesday in Abuja, described Atiku’s allegations against INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, as an attempt to deflect attention from leadership failures within the opposition party ahead of the 2027 elections.

‎Atiku had claimed that Amupitan’s appointment was designed to weaken opposition parties by creating divisions within their ranks.

‎Responding, Yusuf dismissed the allegation, saying political parties must be accountable for their internal structures, disputes and decision-making processes.

‎”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,” he stated.

‎The ex-lawmaker cautioned that Nigeria’s democracy depends on strong institutions and responsible political conduct, adding that baseless attacks on INEC could damage public confidence in the electoral process.

‎According to him, INEC’s mandate is to regulate elections, while political parties are responsible for managing their internal affairs through constitutional and democratic means.

‎”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,” Yusuf concluded.