Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), human rights activist and democracy/ rule of law scholar, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dismantle the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is under the chairmanship of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as a fallout of the deplorable 2023 general elections.
Dr. Agbakoba made the call on his Twitter handle, @oagbakoba, following the suspension and arrest of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, and the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Agbakoba also hailed the riddance of fuel subsidy and forex corruption, which he referred to as the causes of “endemic corruption”.
He noted, however, that INEC should be the next to go considering the fact that the 2023 elections have been adjudged the worst in the history of the country.
He also regretted that many of the election results are disputed and are in tribunals as both petitioners and respondents suffered as a results of INEC’s incompetent.
Tweeting, he said: “Full congratulations go to President Tinubu @officialABAT for getting rid of Emefiele, Bawa, fuel subsidy, and forex corruption. Endemic corruption has suffered a massive blow.
“Next, it is for the president to dismantle INEC @inecnigeria. Everyone will agree that logistically, the 2023 elections are the worst in our history.
“I do not refer to the merits of the election results. Many results are disputed and are in tribunals. Both petitioners and respondents suffered at the hands of an incompetent INEC.
“As we await rulings from the courts, massive reforms of the electoral framework ought to begin. However, this means that the INEC Chairman will have to leave office by resignation or removal; otherwise, the reform task will be impeded.
“I quickly add that the suggested reforms have nothing to do with the merits of the election results at all. Both winners and losers of the elections were victims of the failure of INEC.
“Confidence in Nigeria’s democracy will be enhanced by a deep cleansing of INEC.”
