Pharm Sam Ohuabunwa, the 2023 former presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has urged President Bola Tinubu to use the exit of Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to reset Nigeria’s electoral system.

The former Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) made the call on Tuesday, while responding to questions in an interview on ‘Prime Time’, a programme on Arise Television, charging Tinubu to use the opportunity and appoint an independent successor who will restore public confidence in elections.

Ohuabunwa urged the government to seize the moment to reform the political and electoral system.

“There could never have been a better time. What is calling on us today is to retrace our steps. With the ongoing economic reforms, government reform should run through every facet — economics, politics, and social systems.

“The president has shown courage by breaking from the past. This is the time to be selfless and pick an independent person to lead INEC. If we miss it again, it might be long in coming,” he said.

Speaking on the economy, the former chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, expressed cautious optimism about the Tinubu administration’s reforms, despite what he called “low consumer confidence.”

“Consumer confidence is low because people have stopped trusting the government after many years of failed promises — light for all, health for all, housing for all — yet we have no light, no health, no housing.

“But I can tell you sincerely that we are beginning to hold this economy on the right path,” he added.