Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku, on Friday warned that the international community will closely monitor Nigeria’s preparations and conduct of the 2027 general elections.
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Anyaoku gave the warning while delivering the chairman’s opening remarks at the 2026 memorial lecture organised by the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation in honour of the late nationalist, Obafemi Awolowo, at Ikenne, Ogun State.
The event marked the 117th anniversary of Awolowo’s birth.
Speaking on the country’s political climate ahead of the next general elections, Anyaoku urged the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the electoral process is credible and transparent, particularly in light of controversies surrounding electronic transmission of results.
“On the 2027 national elections, I want to say to the Government, and in particular to INEC especially after the controversy over electronic transmission of votes from the polling units to INEC Results Viewing Portals (IREV), that the international community will be closely watching the political party campaigns, the processes and the actual conduct of the elections,” he said.
He added that the outcome of the elections would be judged globally for credibility.
“And that the results of the elections will be assessed for their fairness and credibility by other countries, including in particular those that have diplomatic representation in Nigeria,” Anyaoku stated.
The elder statesman also expressed concern over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, citing persistent kidnappings, killings and abductions across several states.
According to him, the government is justified in seeking assistance from friendly nations to tackle the crisis.
“Regarding the raging insecurity in several states of the country, I want to say that after over a decade of inability to arrest the kidnappings, the abductions, the killings and the growing populations of people forcefully displaced from their ancestral lands and farms, the Federal Government is right to seek collaboration with friendly countries in addressing the country’s internal insecurity,” he said.
However, Anyaoku cautioned that such collaboration must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“The only caveat should continue to be that in seeking to effectuate the elimination of the bandits and the jihadists, the collaborative arrangements should remain mindful of the need to respect the sovereignty of Nigeria,” he said.
Reflecting on the legacy of Awolowo, Anyaoku described him as one of the founding fathers of modern Nigeria whose leadership left enduring marks on the nation’s political history.
“It is right to recall that Chief Obafemi Awolowo was one of the three founding fathers of modern Nigeria,” he said.
He noted that Awolowo’s roles as Premier of the Western Region, Leader of Opposition in Nigeria’s independence parliament and later as Vice Chairman and Commissioner of Finance during the country’s early military era demonstrated exceptional leadership.
“These exemplary legacies clearly validated the saying that Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the best President that Nigeria never had,” Anyaoku said.
He also explained that the foundation established in Awolowo’s name created a leadership award to recognise individuals who embody the late statesman’s values.
“The attributes include personal discipline, cerebral leadership, integrity, competence, pro-people policies, and genuine patriotism,” he said.
Also speaking, the former presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, said most of the policies being run by the government are anti-Awolowo beliefs.
Quoting Awo on how he wanted to be remembered, he said the late sage laid emphasis on social justice, strong and united multi-ethnic state and irreversible revolution in education.
The SDP Chieftain insisted that Nigeria must return to the Afenifere politics in order achieve the aim of Chief Awolowo.
Adebayo said “So, the conclusion is that if you want to remember you cannot go against a strong multi-ethnic state in Nigeria. You cannot be against education. You cannot be against social justice.
“So it’s time for all of us to remember that in governance we are in an anti-Awolowo generation now because the way in which we have run our system is against the principle set by Awolowo.
“Therefore we must bring Afenifere back. We must return to Afenifere politics so that we can achieve the aim of Chief Awolowo.
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