Obasanjo calls for new INEC chairman with short tenure

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the appointment of new, credible leaders to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with short tenures to curb corruption and rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.

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,” where he described the 2023 general elections as a “travesty.” He emphasized the need for comprehensive electoral reforms, including stringent vetting processes for INEC officials to eliminate partisan influences.

“As a matter of urgency, we must ensure that the chairperson and staff of INEC undergo rigorous vetting to select impartial, non-partisan individuals with unimpeachable integrity,” Obasanjo stated. He proposed the appointment of credible leaders at all levels—federal, state, and local—with limited terms to minimize political interference and corruption.

He also highlighted the importance of safeguarding election infrastructure, particularly the technologies used to collate, transmit, and verify results. Obasanjo criticized INEC for failing to fully utilize the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Election Viewing Portal (IReV) during the 2023 elections, saying that their neglect compromised the integrity of the process.

“These technologies were designed to improve transparency and prevent election rigging, but INEC’s unwillingness to use them led to widespread irregularities,” he said. “It was akin to inviting the fox into the henhouse.”

Obasanjo’s remarks underscore the urgent need for electoral reform as a cornerstone for strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.