Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reignited debates on the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, calling for the dismissal of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Mahmood Yakubu and a complete overhaul of the commission. Speaking via a recorded video address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, Obasanjo emphasized the urgent need for reforms to rebuild trust in the electoral system.
Obasanjo accused INEC of failing to implement critical technologies like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV) during the 2023 general elections. He described this lapse as a deliberate failure that undermined the electoral process.
“These technologies did not fail; INEC willfully failed to use them, resulting in widespread irregularities,” Obasanjo stated, likening the situation to “inviting the fox into the henhouse.”
Obasanjo’s Reform Proposals
The former president advocated for:
- Thorough Vetting of INEC Officials: Obasanjo called for dispassionate and non-partisan appointees with impeccable reputations.
- Short Tenures for INEC Leadership: He suggested this would minimize undue political influence and corruption.
- Appointment Process Reforms: Obasanjo urged the removal of the President’s power to appoint INEC officials, proposing an independent system to ensure impartiality.
He also criticized the lack of transparency in recent elections, stating that INEC’s failures have further eroded public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Presidency Fires Back
The Presidency, however, dismissed Obasanjo’s critique, accusing him of hypocrisy. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, described Obasanjo’s administration as having conducted “the most fraudulent election held in Nigeria since 1960.”
“It is hypocrisy writ large when a man who presided over the worst election in Nigeria demands the sack of INEC’s leadership,” Onanuga wrote in a statement.
Broader Calls for Reform
Obasanjo’s comments come amid growing discontent over the 2023 elections and subsequent off-cycle elections in states like Edo and Kogi. Observers and opposition candidates, including Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, have criticized INEC for alleged non-compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act.
Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, described recent elections as marred by “gross flaws and manipulations.” He warned that without significant reforms, INEC cannot guarantee credible elections in the future.
“Anyone thinking of being the President of Nigeria in 2027 and not thinking of disbanding INEC is not serious,” Amadi stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Experts Demand Accountability
Public Affairs Analyst Nduka Odo also expressed frustration over INEC’s handling of elections, particularly the failure to ensure electronic transmission of results.
“INEC’s integrity is once again under fire. Their inability to ensure transparency and fairness is appalling,” Odo said, adding that the excuses provided by INEC regarding infrastructure and readiness were “tired and unconvincing.”
He called for a decisive overhaul of the electoral body, including holding officials accountable for malpractice and implementing effective electronic transmission systems to prevent manipulation.
Onyebuchi Igboke, a governance advocate, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that INEC must be led by individuals with integrity. He argued that Mahmood Yakubu’s failure to fulfill promises of real-time electronic result transmission had dashed public hopes.
“In a sane clime, the INEC chairman would have resigned after the 2023 general elections,” Igboke said.
Judicial Observations
The Supreme Court, while ruling on petitions challenging the 2023 presidential election results, acknowledged that the failure of IReV reduced public confidence in the electoral process. Justice John Okoro, delivering the lead judgment, noted the importance of addressing these issues to ensure credibility in future elections.
