Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized the need for credible leadership at all levels of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore electoral integrity in Nigeria. Speaking via a recorded video at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held at Yale University in the United States, Obasanjo outlined a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at addressing systemic issues in Nigeria’s electoral processes.
Call for Credible Leadership and Vetting of INEC Officials
Obasanjo stressed the importance of appointing credible individuals to lead INEC at federal, state, and local levels. He advocated for a rigorous vetting process to ensure the selection of non-partisan officials with impeccable reputations, capable of maintaining the commission’s independence.
“As a matter of urgency, we must make sure the INEC chairperson and their staff are thoroughly vetted,” Obasanjo stated. “This vetting must produce dispassionate, non-partisan individuals with impeccable integrity.”
He further suggested that limiting the tenures of INEC officials could reduce political influence and corruption, thereby restoring citizens’ trust in the electoral system.
Criticism of the 2023 Elections and Need for Reform
Describing the 2023 elections as “a travesty,” Obasanjo pointed to widespread irregularities and a failure by INEC to uphold its promises. He accused the commission of deliberately neglecting to implement critical technologies like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
“These technologies were touted by the INEC chairman himself, but in the end, INEC wilfully failed to use or implement them, resulting in widespread voting irregularities,” Obasanjo remarked, adding that this negligence compromised the credibility of the election process.
Recommendations for Electoral Integrity
The former president outlined a series of reforms to improve Nigeria’s electoral processes:
- Strengthen Electoral Security
Obasanjo called for better training of security forces to protect voters and election officials during polls while ensuring they do not participate in electoral malfeasance. He also urged INEC to implement robust ballot security measures, including secure storage and transportation of ballots. - Transparent Pre-Election Processes
He recommended conducting penetration tests on election technology, witnessed by international observers, to ensure system integrity. Safeguarding technologies used for collating, transmitting, verifying, and dispersing results is essential, he said. - Enforce Financial Regulations
Obasanjo highlighted the need for clear and enforceable financial regulations on political campaigns to curb excessive spending and promote transparency. - Post-Election Audits
To rebuild public trust, Obasanjo proposed the introduction of transparent post-election audits that would validate the integrity of election outcomes. - Prevent Electoral Interference
He called for measures to protect elections from both local and foreign interference, emphasizing that Nigeria must prevent manipulation at every level.
On Electoral Justice
Obasanjo criticized the practice of declaring election winners in questionable circumstances, only for aggrieved candidates to be directed to the courts for resolution. “Politicians corruptly declaring themselves winners in elections where votes do not matter and asking losers to seek justice in courts where it cannot be assured is the easiest way to kill electoral democracy,” he warned.
A Vision for Rebuilding Trust
In conclusion, Obasanjo argued that restoring trust in Nigeria’s electoral system requires transparent processes, independent oversight, and unwavering commitment to fairness. He maintained that the reforms he outlined are critical to safeguarding democracy and ensuring that elections reflect the will of the people.
