4th February, 2011
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commision, Dr. Abel Guobadia is dead. P.M.NEWS gathered that he died today in the hospital after suffering from prostate cancer.
Prior to enroling for his Ph. D, Guobadia began his career as a Physics teacher at Osogbo Grammar School (1957); Ilesha Grammar School (1958); Government College Ughelli (1958 – 1959); Edo College, Benin City (1960); Government College, Ibadan (1960 – 1961) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1961 – 1962). From 1966 – 1971, Dr. Guobadia was a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Physics at the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Guobadia worked at Nigeria’s National Universities Commission throughout most of the 1970s and early 1980s and rose to the position of Director of Academic Planning and subsequently, Executive Secretary of the Commission. In 1983, Dr. Guobadia helped the University of Benin, Benin City establish a Consultancy Services Unit and became the pioneer Director of the Unit.
In January 1984, Guobadia was appointed Commissioner of Education for the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria under the military administration of then Brigadier Jeremiah Useni. Later in 1986, the Colonel John Mark Inienger military administration appointed him the Bendel State Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning. In 1987, President Ibrahim Babangida appointed Abel Guobadia Nigeria’s first resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Korea. Upon retirement, Abel Guobadia floated a private educational consulting firm, Advanced Educational Services Limited, that was responsible for developing academic programmess for several universities in Nigeria. Abel Guobadia and Professor T. M. Yesufu played an influential role in the establishment of the Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State, Nigeria.
In 1999, Guobadia became Nigeria’s Chief Electoral Officer. Dr. Guobadia was confirmed as the Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission by the Nigerian Senate in May 2000. Guobadia retired from this position in May 2005 becoming the first, and so far, only Chairman of the Electoral Commission since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, to complete his tenure.
Guobadia has served as Chairman and member of many boards, including that of the New Nigeria Bank, West African Examinations Council and the Nigerian Standards Organization. He has served in several capacities on Governing Councils of several Universities in Nigeria. Guobadia was former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the Edo State University, Ekpoma. He was the President of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) from 1971 to 1976. He was a Special Member of the Senate of the University of Benin, Benin City.
He was once arraigned at a magistrate court in Benin City for alleged defamation against the Anglican Bishop of Benin Diocese, Rev. Peter Imasuen.
He said his arraignment was not an embarrassment to him.