Obasanjo Demands Removal of INEC Chair Mahmood Yakubu and Other Officials Amid Calls for Electoral Reform
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the dismissal of Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other commission officials at all levels, as part of a broader effort to reform Nigeria’s electoral system.
Obasanjo made the remarks during a presentation at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, where he delivered a pre-recorded address titled “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria.” The event, which honors the late Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, featured a discussion on leadership and governance in Africa.
In his speech, Obasanjo described the 2023 general elections as a “travesty” and emphasized the need for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s electoral process. He called for a thorough vetting of INEC leadership to ensure the appointment of impartial and credible individuals. He also advocated for shorter tenures for INEC officials to prevent political interference and corruption.
“We must ensure that the INEC Chairperson and their staff are thoroughly vetted,” Obasanjo said. “The selection process should prioritize dispassionate, non-partisan individuals with unblemished reputations. Furthermore, the appointment of new, credible leadership at the federal, state, local government, and municipal levels is crucial to restoring public trust in the electoral system.”
Obasanjo stressed that the INEC Chairman must not only be above reproach but also demonstrably independent and incorruptible. He also criticized INEC for failing to utilize critical technological tools like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), which had been touted as innovations to ensure election integrity.
“These tools were promoted as solutions to election rigging and transparency issues,” Obasanjo pointed out. “However, INEC willfully failed to use them, resulting in widespread irregularities.”
The credibility of INEC has been questioned following the 2023 elections, particularly due to issues with the IReV platform, which was meant to provide real-time election results. The platform experienced a significant failure during the presidential election, which INEC attributed to a technical glitch. This failure played a central role in post-election legal challenges, although these were ultimately dismissed by both the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and the Supreme Court.
Obasanjo also referenced concerns regarding the appointment of partisan individuals to key positions within INEC, highlighting that several recent appointments, including Resident Electoral Commissioners, had links to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
While his calls for electoral reform have sparked debate, Obasanjo’s own record on electoral integrity is not without criticism. The 2003 and 2007 elections during his presidency were widely regarded as flawed, with both local and international observers condemning the results as deeply problematic. His successor, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, acknowledged these flaws and initiated reforms, although they were not fully realized before his death.
Obasanjo’s remarks at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum were attended by a number of prominent Nigerians, including Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, and former Minister Oby Ezekwesili. Obi participated in two panel discussions on leadership and democracy in Africa, as well as the future of leadership in the continent.
While the call for reforms and new leadership at INEC continues to resonate among critics, the response from the commission remains muted, with attempts to reach INEC’s spokesperson, Sam Olumekun,proving unsuccessful.
