Chimamanda: INEC and Buhari missed chance to become Nigeria's heroes in 2023 election.

In an interview with Arise News on Monday, Chimamanda Adichie, an award-winning

author, expressed her disappointment with President Muhammadu Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stating that they missed their last chance to become heroes. She explained that many Africans were inspired by the Obidient movement leading up to the election, but their hopes were dashed by Yakubu Mahmood, the chairman of INEC.

 

Adichie believes that both Buhari and Mahmood missed their opportunities for heroism. She argued that Mahmood, in particular, had a chance to become a hero not only in Nigeria but in Africa, but he wasted it spectacularly. According to her, the INEC chairman lost credibility in the eyes of Nigerians by not uploading the results immediately. She noted that the Electoral Act gives INEC the legal backing to have electronic transmission of results and that the results should be uploaded at the end of voting from the polling units in a format that INEC decides, as Mahmood had previously stated. However, this was not done, and Nigerians were left in doubt about the credibility of the election.

 

Adichie also criticized Buhari for his posturing during the election campaign, stating that his display and statements of commitment to credible polls were just to hoodwink the electorate. She believes that Nigerians no longer think he meant well and meant to support credible elections.

 

Adichie expressed hope that parties in court would get justice, but she also expressed doubt, given the kind of judgments that have come out of the court in recent times. Despite this, she remains optimistic that the right thing will be done, and justice will be served. As a McArthur Fellow in 2008, Adichie's opinion on this matter carries weight, and her criticism of Buhari and Mahmood is significant.