Ohanaeze Youths Blast Obasanjo for Criticizing 2023 Elections
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has hit back at former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his harsh critique of Nigeria’s 2023 elections and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Obasanjo, speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum in the U.S., had labeled the elections a “travesty” and called for a complete overhaul of INEC leadership with short-term appointments to curb corruption and rebuild trust. He also accused INEC of sabotaging the process, criticizing the failure to maximize the BVAS and IReV technologies, which were initially hailed as game-changers for electoral transparency.
In response, Ohanaeze Youth leader Mazi Okwu Nnabuike accused Obasanjo of laying the groundwork for flawed elections during his presidency. He recalled incidents under Obasanjo’s tenure where election results were allegedly manipulated, with phrases like “go to court” becoming the norm for aggrieved politicians.
Okwu further pointed out that the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who succeeded Obasanjo, admitted the election that brought him to power was marred by irregularities. He criticized Obasanjo for failing to initiate meaningful electoral reforms during his tenure, suggesting that if he had, Nigeria’s electoral system might be more credible today.
The group urged Nigerians and the global community to take Obasanjo’s comments with caution, accusing him of attempting to undermine successive administrations.
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