Why INEC Chairman's Tenure Must Be Short - Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo

Ex-Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has called for new and impartial leaders for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with short tenures to tackle corruption and rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.

Speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held 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.”

The former president emphasized the need for comprehensive reform of the electoral system, including rigorous vetting of INEC officials to eliminate partisan influences.

“As a matter of urgency, we must ensure the INEC chairperson and staff undergo thorough vetting,” he said. “The process must yield impartial, non-partisan individuals with impeccable reputations.”

Obasanjo proposed appointing credible leadership at all levels—federal, state, and local—with limited tenures to prevent political interference and corruption.

He stressed that the INEC chairperson must be “transparently independent and incorruptible.”

Highlighting the importance of safeguarding democratic integrity, Obasanjo called for measures to prevent electoral interference and advocated for clear financial regulations to ensure transparency in political campaigns.

He also urged the need for robust mechanisms to protect election infrastructure, particularly the technologies used for collating, transmitting, and verifying results.

The former president criticized INEC for failing to utilize the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) and election viewing portal (IReV) during the 2023 elections, which he said compromised the process.

“These technologies were praised for their potential to enhance transparency, prevent rigging, and build public trust,” Obasanjo remarked.

“However, INEC willfully neglected their use, leading to widespread irregularities. It was akin to inviting the fox into the henhouse.”

Obasanjo’s remarks underline the urgency of electoral reform as a cornerstone for strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.