A former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to approach the conduct of the 2027 general election with caution, as the international community would be much interested.
Apart from this, Anyaoku also warned that the sovereignty of Nigeria must be respected while seeking collaboration and help from foreign countries in confronting security challenges and facing the country.
Speaking as the chairman of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation lecture 2027, speaking on the 2027 election, the former diplomat noted that the controversies over the recently signed Electoral Act 2026 had further attracted the interest of the international community in the election.
He therefore tasked INEC to be careful as it prepares for and conducts the election properly.
He said, “It is unfortunate that despite the unrelenting insecurity in the country, our leaders are preoccupied with the 2027 election. But with the controversies over transmission of electronic results, the international community will be watching the campaign processes and the election.
“INEC should know that the election will be assessed by other countries and should therefore ensure the conduct of acceptable election.”
While expressing concerns about the security challenges in Nigeria with killings and kidnapping ravaging many of the states, said there was nothing wrong in the country seeking foreign help to end the menace.
At the lecture, which had in attendance representatives of President Bola Tinubu and the Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, the former Commonwealth scribe urged the governments to intensify efforts at combating kidnappings, killings, and displacement of communities.
The Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Amb. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, said the event was not merely a moment of remembrance but an opportunity to interrogate the challenges of leadership and nation-building in contemporary Nigeria.
She also announced the creation of the Obafemi Awolowo Future Leaders Fellowship, a new initiative aimed at nurturing a generation of ethical and visionary young leaders across Africa and the diaspora.
According to her, the fellowship will provide mentorship, leadership training, and collaborative opportunities for young professionals aged 20 to 35, to build a pan-African network of leaders inspired by Awolowo’s ideals.
“Our vision is to build a network of future leaders shaped by Awo’s values of principled governance, social justice and human development, particularly through education,” Awolowo-Dosunmu said.
She added that the programme would help bridge the gap between leadership ideals and the realities of governance by equipping young people with practical skills and ethical grounding.
It was further disclosed that the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, established fourteen years ago to recognise individuals who embody the late leader’s values of integrity, competence, and patriotism, would not be awarded this year.
Mrs. Awolowo-Dosunmu explained that the decision followed a period of reflection to preserve the high standards associated with the award. However, she revealed that the Foundation was considering introducing sector-based, second-tier awards to recognize excellence and impact across various fields.
- Media Report