Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised concerns over Nigeria’s democratic institutions, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary of undermining public trust.
Speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, Obasanjo faulted INEC for failing to deploy technologies like BVAS and IReV during the 2023 general elections, which he said compromised the credibility of the process. He called for a restructuring of INEC, stressing the need for credible leadership, shorter tenures, and transparent appointments free from political interference.
In his new book Nigeria: Past and Future, the former president also lashed out at the judiciary, describing it as “deeply compromised” and alleging that some judges now operate as “courts of corruption” rather than justice. He cited instances of tribunal judges amassing wealth through electoral cases, warning that the situation threatens the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.