Laolu Akande, a former senior special adviser to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to openly acknowledge the need for improvements in Nigeria’s electoral process.
It is worth noting that the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua once admitted that the process that brought him to office was flawed. This shows the importance of recognizing and addressing the shortcomings in our electoral system.
Akande highlighted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had promised Nigerians that the results of the 2023 election would be available on the IREV (Integrated Results Electronic Platform).
However, Akande pointed out that INEC had explained to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) that they were not legally obligated to transmit the results electronically. This was because it was merely a promise and not a law.
Akande emphasized that while INEC needs to work on rebuilding trust, it is crucial for the President to condemn the subpar performance of the electoral umpire.
Akande urged President Tinubu to follow in the footsteps of President Yar’Adua and publicly acknowledge the need for electoral reforms. By doing so, the President can demonstrate his commitment to improving the electoral process.
