Northern Awareness Network Fires Back at Obasanjo Over INEC Criticism

Adamu Girei

The Northern Awareness Network (NAN) has responded sharply to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu. NAN Chairman Salihu Suleiman described Obasanjo’s accusations as shameless, given his own history of electoral malfeasance during his presidency.

Obasanjo’s track record on electoral integrity is questionable, with 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. This, according to NAN, makes it difficult to take his criticisms of the current government seriously.

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 was marked by a lack of significant electoral reforms, and he failed to prioritize transparency in the electoral process.

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.

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.

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.

Mahmood Yakubu, the current INEC Chairman, has been leading the commission since 2015 ¹. His background is in political history and international studies, and he has held various academic and administrative positions before joining INEC.