Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for an urgent overhaul of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore public trust and safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking via a recorded address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held at Yale University, USA, Obasanjo urged the appointment of credible, impartial, and thoroughly vetted leadership for INEC at all levels. He stressed that such reforms are critical for ensuring transparent and credible electoral processes.
Obasanjo lamented the perceived failures of INEC during the 2023 general elections, which he described as “a travesty,” and recommended sweeping reforms.
“As a matter of urgency, we must ensure the INEC chairperson and staff are thoroughly vetted,” he said. “The process should produce dispassionate and incorruptible actors who can operate transparently and independently.”
He proposed shorter tenures for INEC officials as a measure to reduce political interference and corruption, while rebuilding public confidence in the electoral system.
The former president outlined a comprehensive strategy to protect Nigeria’s elections from domestic and foreign manipulation. Key recommendations included; Stricter Financial Regulations – to curb undue influence through campaign funding. Enhanced Security – for voters, electoral materials, and officials and Robust Technology Protections – to secure electoral systems like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal.
Obasanjo criticized INEC for failing to deploy these technologies effectively during the 2023 elections, accusing the commission of deliberate negligence.
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“These technologies did not fail; INEC chose not to deploy them, leading to widespread irregularities,” he stated, likening the situation to “inviting the fox into the henhouse.”
Obasanjo advocated for several reforms to restore credibility to the electoral process, including; Pre-Election Testing – transparent penetration tests of electoral infrastructure, with international observers present. Post-Election Audits – independent reviews to ensure transparency and fairness and Judicial Integrity – ensuring court processes are free from manipulation to foster public trust in election dispute resolutions.
He warned that declaring manipulated results as valid while directing aggrieved parties to courts where justice is uncertain risks destroying Nigeria’s democracy.
“Declaring corruptly manipulated results as valid and directing aggrieved candidates to court where justice is not assured is the quickest route to killing electoral democracy,” Obasanjo cautioned.
