Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the dismissal of the Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, and officials of the commission at all levels as part of a reform of the electoral process in Nigeria.

Mr Obasanjo made the call in a paper he presented at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, Yale University, in the United States. The annual lecture honours the late Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe.

He delivered the address, titled “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria”, in a pre-recorded speech played at the event.

In his speech, Mr Obasanjo described the 2023 general election as a “travesty”, adding that the reform of the electoral system is a key agenda for the country.

The former president also called for shorter tenures for INEC officials and a more rigorous vetting process to prevent the appointment of partisan individuals.

“As a matter of urgency, we must ensure the INEC Chairperson and their staff are thoroughly vetted. The vetting exercise should produce dispassionate, non-partisan actors with impeccable reputations.

“Nigeria must ensure the appointment of new credible INEC leadership at the federal, state, local government, and municipal – city, town, and village – levels, with short tenures to prevent undesirable political influence and corruption, and to re-establish trust in the electoral system by its citizens,” he said.

He argued that “The INEC Chairperson must not only be absolutely above board but must also be transparently independent and incorruptible.”

Mr Obasanjo said the commission willfully failed to utilise two main technological tools at its disposal—the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV)—during the 2023 presidential election, despite the promises made by Mr Yakubu.

“The BVAS and IReV are two technological innovations that, prior to 2023, were celebrated for their potential to enhance the accuracy and transparency of our election results, eliminate the threat of election rigging, and boost public trust in electoral outcomes.

“These technologies were touted by the INEC chairman himself. In the end, these technologies did not fail. INEC wilfully failed to use or implement them, which resulted in widespread voting irregularities. It was a case of inviting the fox into the henhouse,” he said.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Collation Agent, Olaniyi Ogungbuji, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of inducing voters in the just concluded governorship election in Ondo State to the tune of over N35 billion.

He spoke shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
declared the APC candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, winner of the Saturday’s governorship election at the INEC headquarters in Akure.

The Returning Officer, Prof Olayemi Akinwunmi, declared Aiyedatiwa winner at exactly 2:29pm.

Aiyedatiwa polled 366,781 votes to defeat his major rival and the PDP candidate, Agboola Ajayi, who came distant second with 117,845 votes, while African Democratic Party’s Adeyemi Nejo came third with 4,138.

Speaking to newsmen after the declaration, Ogungbuji alleged that the ruling party won because it deployed over N35bn to induce voters.

“This is the end result of the election but I can tell you that APC as a party deployed over N35bn into inducing the electorate. And if this is the future of this nation, I think we are doomed for it,” he said.

He also expressed worry that the election didn’t take place at some polling units at Idanre LG but his position was discarded at the collation centre.

Ogungbuji hinted that the party’s candidate, Agboola Ajayi and the party would decide on the next line of action in the coming days.

“I will report back to him (Ajayi) and the party as well, they will take the next appropriate action in the next few days,” he said.

But the APC state agent, Ade Adeogun, dismissed the allegation of vote buying, describing it as flippant excuses.

“You need to understand that throughout this electioneering period, we even complained that Ondo State was over policed.

So, if they had any genuine evidence, which is why I mentioned cogent and verifiable reasons, they would have reported to the security agencies and those persons involved in votes buying or any inducement would have been arrested.

“Without evidence, you can’t just go around and make flippant excuses. They lost an election. They lost woefully and they’re looking for a straw to hold onto.”

He said the opposition party should be allowed to ‘weep’ over the defeat, saying the party has a right to do so.

Adeogun said, “It’s an allegation and when you go to court, he who alleges must prove. For you to prove, you must present cogent and verifiable reasons.

“If you have 10 political parties contesting and only one is complaining, you would understand that it’s a pain of loss that they’re still experiencing and we must give them that right to weep.

“If a child has failed an examination, he is allowed to weep. Let’s give them time to absorb the defeat and then probably accept the fact that they lost because they didn’t deserve to win.”

LP, has suspended the current Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone, Sen. Kevin Chukwu, as a member of the party.

Senator Chukwu was suspended by his Amuri ward executives based on alleged anti-party activities and insubordination.

This was contained in a letter signed by the chairman of the party in Amurri ward and addressed to the Chairman of the party in Enugu state, through the Local government Chairman.

The letter made available to newsmen on Sunday reads in part:

“Distinguished Senator Kelvin Chukwu,

“Notice of Your Suspension from the Labour Party

“We, the members of the Executive Council of the Labour Party, Amurri Ward, Nkanu West LGA, hereby formally notify you, Distinguished Senator Kelvin Chukwu, of your suspension from the Labour Party for a period of 90 days, effective from the date of this notification, and/or the date of your receipt of this notice.

“This resolution has been passed as a result of your acts of insubordination to the leadership of the party, your involvement in anti-party activities, and your failure to adhere to the party’s principles.

“You have failed to avail yourself of the opportunity to be heard, despite several requests made to you in this regard.

“Be assured that the constitutional provisions of the party are at your disposal should you wish to assert them following your being suspended.

The letter was signed by Comrade Chika Okoh, for and on behalf of the Executive Council of the Labour Party, Amurri Ward.