A coalition of civil society organizations has strongly criticized former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo for his recent calls to dismiss the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
This coalition, which includes groups such as The Transparency Network, Public Interest Initiative, Nigerian Justice League Initiative, and the Foundation for True Democratic Governance and Freedom, released a joint statement condemning Obasanjo’s remarks. According to the coalition’s spokesman, Dr. Danladi Ceceko, Obasanjo’s history of controversial elections undermines his authority to judge Yakubu’s leadership.
The statement, partly quoting Dr. Ceceko, noted: “We have observed former President Obasanjo’s recent remarks at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, where he advocated for the removal of INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu and other officials as part of broader electoral reforms in Nigeria. However, we believe Obasanjo is in no position to lecture on electoral integrity.”
The coalition went on to highlight elections conducted under Obasanjo’s administration, especially in 2003 and 2007, when allegations of rigging and irregularities cast doubt on the outcomes. Dr. Ceceko reminded the public of the admission by Obasanjo’s chosen successor in 2007, who acknowledged in his inaugural speech that the election process was deeply flawed. “Could there be any more powerful indictment of Obasanjo’s electoral record than this?” Ceceko added.
The coalition also criticized Obasanjo’s political tactics, describing him as the “father of do-or-die politics,” referencing his infamous statement that “even Jesus Christ couldn’t conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria.” They further cited examples of Obasanjo’s attempts to manipulate political outcomes, including his push for a third term, impeachment efforts against governors with limited legislative support, and attempts to arrest sitting officials like Governor Ngige of Anambra State.
In contrast, the coalition praised Prof. Yakubu’s tenure as INEC chairman, crediting him with introducing technology to improve election management, thereby enhancing transparency and reducing irregularities. “No previous INEC chairman has made as significant efforts to modernize Nigeria’s electoral process as Yakubu,” the groups emphasized.
Concluding their statement, the organizations argued that Obasanjo lacks the moral ground to instruct Nigerians on matters of leadership and electoral integrity. They called on him to reflect on his own legacy and perhaps seek atonement for what they described as “some of the most problematic elections in Nigeria’s democratic history.”
