Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the removal of Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing the need for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, Obasanjo described the 2023 general election as a “travesty” and emphasized the urgent need for credible leadership in INEC. He proposed shorter tenures for electoral officials and a rigorous vetting process to ensure the appointment of impartial and incorruptible individuals.
Obasanjo criticized INEC’s failure to utilize key technologies like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV), leading to alleged voting irregularities. “These technologies had the potential to eliminate rigging and boost trust in the system but were deliberately underutilized,” he said.
He urged Nigeria to prioritize restoring public confidence in the electoral process through transparent reforms.
