Obasanjo Advocates For Electoral Reform As Nigeria Prepares For 2027 Elections

Obasanjo Advocates For Electoral Reform As Nigeria Prepares For 2027 ElectionsFormer President Olusegun Obasanjo has reignited calls for urgent electoral reform in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for a complete overhaul of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). During a recorded address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, Obasanjo advocated for the removal of INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu and other officials, stressing the importance of appointing credible individuals to restore public trust in the electoral process.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Obasanjo sharply criticized INEC’s handling of the 2023 general elections, particularly its failure to properly implement key technologies like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV). He contended that the failure was not due to technical glitches but rather deliberate inaction, leading to widespread electoral irregularities.

“These technologies were promoted by the INEC chairman himself. But in the end, it was not a failure of technology. INEC chose not to use them, which resulted in widespread voting irregularities. It was a case of letting the fox guard the hen house,” Obasanjo stated.

The former president further called for the vetting of INEC leadership to ensure that only non-partisan, credible individuals are appointed, and recommended short tenures for INEC officials to prevent corruption and undue political influence. He emphasized that only transparent, incorruptible leadership could restore public confidence in the electoral system.

“The INEC chairperson and their team must be thoroughly vetted, and this process should focus on integrity, independence, and transparency. We must ensure that those in charge of elections at all levels are above board and committed to rebuilding trust in the electoral system,” Obasanjo asserted.

In response, the Presidency dismissed Obasanjo’s remarks, accusing him of hypocrisy. Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication, labeled Obasanjo as someone with “a tremendous capacity for mischief,” while Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, pointed out that Obasanjo’s tenure was marked by controversial elections, including the flawed 2007 presidential election.

Onanuga described Obasanjo’s call for an overhaul of INEC leadership as ironic, given the “sham” election held in 2007 during his administration. He recalled that the beneficiary of the flawed 2007 election, Umaru Yar’adua, publicly acknowledged its irregularities, prompting electoral reforms led by a commission under Justice Uwais.

The call for electoral reform is timely, as many Nigerians remain dissatisfied with the 2023 elections. Legal challenges from opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who argued that INEC violated electoral laws by failing to deploy the necessary technology, have kept the conversation alive. Both candidates lost at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) and the Supreme Court, but continued to argue that the commission’s failure to follow its own guidelines undermined the election’s credibility.

In the aftermath of these legal battles, Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, has stressed the need for comprehensive reforms, citing the “gross flaws” and “manipulations” witnessed in elections, particularly in Edo State. Amadi also called on 2027 presidential candidates to prioritize disbanding INEC if they are serious about credible elections.

The debate continues, with critics like Nduka Odo, a Public Affairs Analyst, echoing concerns about INEC’s failure to ensure free and fair elections. Odo described the commission’s handling of electronic transmission of results as “alarming” and called for immediate reforms to restore integrity to the electoral process.

Onyebuchi Igboke, Project Manager at Advocacy Partnership for Good Governance, further emphasized the need for reform by suggesting the removal of the president’s power to appoint the INEC chairman. He argued that only individuals with unquestionable integrity should lead the commission, and criticized INEC’s failure to deliver on promises of real-time electronic result transmission during the 2023 elections.

Igboke added, “Electioneering in Nigeria should be reformed, starting by removing the president’s power to appoint the INEC chairman. The recent elections have shown that the current leadership is not delivering the integrity Nigerians deserve.”

As calls for electoral reforms grow louder, many Nigerians are hopeful that a more transparent, accountable, and trustworthy electoral system can be established before the next major elections.

For more information on this article and other related posts from Bushradiogist, please join our WhatsApp channel by clicking this link https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaUumOODTkK7AZL1Fw3o. For advertisement inquiries only, kindly send a message to 090 1907 0863 on WhatsApp.