Obasanjo Explains Why INEC Chairman’s Tenure Should Be Limited

Obasanjo Explains Why INEC Chairman’s Tenure Should Be LimitedFormer President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the appointment of new, credible leaders at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with shorter tenures to combat corruption and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process. Speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University in Connecticut, USA, Obasanjo delivered a keynote address titled “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria” and criticized the 2023 general elections, calling them a “travesty.”....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Obasanjo stressed the need for sweeping reforms in the country’s electoral system, particularly focusing on the rigorous vetting of INEC officials to ensure they are free from partisan influences. “We must urgently ensure that the INEC chairperson and its staff undergo thorough vetting,” he said, adding that the process should result in the selection of impartial, non-partisan individuals with unblemished reputations.

He also proposed appointing credible leaders at all levels of government—federal, state, and local—with limited tenures to prevent political manipulation and corruption. According to Obasanjo, the INEC chairperson must be “transparently independent and incorruptible.”

Obasanjo highlighted the importance of protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy, calling for strict measures to prevent electoral interference and advocating for transparent financial regulations in political campaigns. He also emphasized the need for stronger protections for election infrastructure, particularly the technologies used for vote collation, transmission, and result verification.

Criticizing INEC’s failure to fully utilize key technologies like the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) and the election viewing portal (IReV) during the 2023 elections, Obasanjo noted that this oversight undermined the credibility of the process. “These technologies were praised for their potential to enhance transparency, prevent rigging, and build public trust,” he remarked. “However, INEC willfully neglected their use, leading to widespread irregularities. It was like inviting the fox into the henhouse.”

Obasanjo’s comments underscore the urgency of electoral reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and ensure future elections are fair and transparent.

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