On Tuesday, the Federal Government advised former President Olusegun Obasanjo against actions that could undermine democracy in Nigeria. This statement came in response to Obasanjo’s recent appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to instruct the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, to halt the ongoing collation and announcement of election results. In a letter titled “An Appeal for Caution and Rectification,” Obasanjo alleged that certain politicians had compromised electoral officials, rendering the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System machines ineffective. He expressed concerns about potential dangers to the country stemming from these alleged compromises in the electoral process.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, characterized Obasanjo’s remarks as inciting, self-serving, and provocative. In a statement issued by his media aide, Segun Adeyemi, Mohammed criticized the former President’s call for intervention as a “calculated attempt to undermine the electoral process.” He expressed disbelief that a former leader would propagate unverified claims and unfounded allegations against the electoral system. Mohammed pointed out that while Obasanjo presents himself as a concerned elder statesman, he is, in fact, a known partisan who seeks to disrupt the democratic choices of millions of Nigerian voters. He further noted that Obasanjo’s tenure was marked by one of the worst elections since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, making him the least qualified to advise a President committed to ensuring free, fair, credible, and transparent elections.
As the nation awaited the results of the recent national elections amid rising tensions, Mohammed emphasized that a self-respecting elder statesman should promote peace rather than incite chaos. He accused Obasanjo of using his unsolicited letter to suggest an inconclusive election and potential anarchy, while also casting doubt on electoral officials who cannot defend themselves. Instead of calling for the cancellation of the election, the government urged those dissatisfied with the results to seek legal recourse. With over 1,265,227 electoral officials deployed and technological enhancements in place, INEC was reportedly performing well, according to preliminary reports from various observer missions. The minister called for restraint from those attempting to cancel the election and urged them to allow the official electoral body to complete its duties.
In a related statement, former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (retd.), urged President Buhari to disregard Obasanjo’s request to suspend the results collation. Akinrinade condemned Obasanjo’s statement, describing it as unfortunate and a calculated attempt to manipulate the electoral system. He expressed concern that a former President would challenge the integrity of a national election without evidence and call for its interruption. Akinrinade, who has fought for Nigeria’s unity and witnessed its democratic evolution, asserted that the country is on the right path and criticized Obasanjo for not remaining neutral, given his endorsement of the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi.
Conversely, approximately 30 Christian clerics, under the Nigeria Christian Elders Coalition, called for INEC to suspend the collation of presidential election results to prevent a political crisis. They argued that the commission’s failure to adhere to its regulations and the Electoral Act has jeopardized Nigeria’s standing. The coalition urged INEC to cancel the election to safeguard the electoral process’s integrity, stating that the commission’s actions have cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2023 presidential election results. They called for transparency regarding the violations of electoral law and the measures INEC intends to take to rectify these issues.
During a press conference in Abuja, Senior Pastor Sarah Omakum, representing the religious leaders, emphasized the need for INEC to avoid actions that could lead to a breakdown of law and order in Nigeria. The NCEC comprises senior Christian clerics from across the country, including notable figures such as Pastor Paul Enenche, Rev. Dr. William Okoye, and Dr. Sam Amadi, among others.
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