Obasanjo Under Fire: Northern Awareness Network Slams Ex-President Over INEC Criticism

Jack Odo

The Northern Awareness Network (NAN) has unleashed a scathing response to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu. NAN Chairman Salihu Suleiman labeled Obasanjo’s accusations as shameless, given his own checkered past of electoral malfeasance during his presidency ¹.

Obasanjo’s track record on electoral integrity is marred by numerous reports of irregularities, violence, and rigging in elections during his time in office. He even admitted to manipulating elections to ensure victory for his preferred candidates, which makes it challenging to take his criticisms of the current government seriously ¹.

NAN emphasized the importance of holding leaders accountable for their actions and decisions but noted that Obasanjo’s past actions undermine his credibility. His administration lacked significant electoral reforms and failed to prioritize transparency in the electoral process ¹.

Moreover, Obasanjo’s criticism of INEC’s reliance on technology, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV), seems misplaced. His own administration was characterized by a manual electoral process prone to manipulation ¹.

The Northern Awareness Network questioned Obasanjo’s moral authority to lecture on governance and integrity, given his involvement in institutionalizing corruption. His presidency was marred by allegations of financial impropriety and influence peddling ¹.

In conclusion, NAN urged contemporary leaders to learn from the past and prioritize the establishment of a transparent and accountable electoral process. They also cautioned against taking Obasanjo’s criticisms seriously, given his history of electoral malpractice.

*About Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman*

Mahmood Yakubu, the current INEC Chairman, has been leading the commission since 2015 ¹. His impressive background is in political history and international studies, with various academic and administrative positions under his belt before joining INEC. Born in Bauchi in May 1962, Yakubu attended Teachers’ College, Toro, Bauchi State, and obtained the Grade II Teachers’ Certificate in 1980. He graduated with a first-class honors degree in History from the University of Sokoto (now Usmanu Danfodiyo University) in 1985 and later obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil) Degree in History from the University of Oxford in 1991 ¹ ².