The 2023 Presidential Elections were marred by various issues, including violence, the failure of INEC to upload the election results on IReV portal, and numerous post-election protests. Despite the inauguration of a new President, the results of the Presidential election are still being contested at the Election Petition Court.
In light of this, Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has urged President Bola Tinubu to dismiss Mahmoud Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Agbakoba emphasized that the 61-year-old INEC boss must either resign or be removed to ensure the progress of electoral reform in Nigeria.
In a statement released by his Media Assistant, Niyi Odunmorayo, Agbakoba commended President Tinubu for taking action against Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and AbdulRasheed Bawa, the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The senior lawyer expressed satisfaction with the removal of corruption related to fuel subsidy and foreign exchange under President Tinubu’s leadership, stating that endemic corruption had suffered a significant blow.
Agbakoba went on to assert, “The next step is for the President to dismantle INEC. Logistically speaking, the 2023 elections were the worst in our history. I am not referring to the validity of the election results themselves, as many results are currently being disputed in tribunals. Both petitioners and respondents have suffered due to INEC’s incompetence.”
While awaiting court rulings on the election disputes, substantial reforms of the electoral framework should commence. However, for these reforms to be effective, the INEC Chairman must either resign or be removed from office; otherwise, the reform efforts will be hindered.
According to Agbakoba, It is important to note that the suggested reforms are unrelated to the merits of the election results. Both the winners and losers of the elections were affected by INEC’s failures. A thorough cleansing of INEC will enhance confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
Mahmoud Yakubu was appointed as the INEC Chair by then-President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015, succeeding Attahiru Jega, who supervised the 2015 general elections. In October 2020, Buhari reappointed Yakubu as the head of the electoral commission.
The question remains: Can the President rise above personal interests and dismiss the INEC Chairman, considering the outcomes of the 2023 Presidential Elections?
