Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for urgent reforms in the country’s electoral process, including the appointment of credible leaders to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He made the appeal during the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University in the United States.
Describing the 2023 general elections as deeply flawed, Obasanjo highlighted the need for transparent vetting of INEC officials to ensure impartiality and restore public trust.
He emphasised that the INEC chairman and staff must be independent, incorruptible, and free from political influence.
“INEC leadership must be above reproach. Nigeria needs credible officials at all levels – federal, state, and local – to prevent corruption and re-establish citizens’ trust in the electoral system,” Obasanjo said.
He also criticised INEC’s failure to deploy promised technologies, such as the BVAS and IReV systems, during the 2023 elections.
He alleged that these tools were intentionally neglected, resulting in irregularities.
To safeguard future elections, Obasanjo proposed measures including improved ballot security, better-trained security personnel, and strict enforcement of campaign finance regulations.
He also suggested post-election audits and international monitoring of electoral processes to ensure transparency.
The former president warned that corrupt practices, such as declaring winners without due process, could erode democracy and disenfranchise voters. “When votes no longer matter, electoral democracy dies,” he cautioned.
