INEC Pledges further improvement in the upcoming Guber elections
Maryam Aminu
The 2023 general elections weren’t without some drama and visible misconduct by some top INEC officials. And one of the best ways to learn lessons and continue to improve elections and the electoral process in Nigeria is by engaging with stakeholders.
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the statement while delivering his remarks at a meeting with political parties on the review of the 2023 general elections on Tuesday 25th of July, 2023 in Abuja
Mahmood noted that INEC had in the last three weeks engaged with critical stakeholders who participated in the conduct of the 2023 general elections in the country
According to INEC Chairman,the purpose of the meeting include the review of the 2023 general elections, as well as preparations for the forthcoming bye-elections and the three off-cycle governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states
On the 2023 general elections, the INEC boss admits to some hiccups experienced and assured
the commission has learnt her lesson and will improve performance in the forth-coming elections
“For the Commission, we are looking at some of the lessons learnt from the general election to improve our performance in the forthcoming elections. We are focusing, among other issues, on election technology, recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, the conduct of some of our regular and ad hoc officials, security issue, logistics in particular and our relationship with other service providers in general.”
He appeal to party leaders for similar introspection on the conduct of their candidates and their supporters. The use of thugs during elections to harass election officials, intimidate voters and disrupt processes, sometimes resulting in the destruction of election materials or even worse must be addressed. Campaign in public by parties and candidates in the three States commenced on 14th July 2023 as provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Governorship elections. Sadly, there are already disturbing reports of clashes between opposing parties with claims and counter claims of innocence or culpability. These claims help no one. Call your supporters to order, he urged
The Chairman, acknowledged the perennial complaints from some political parties that the power of incumbency is used in some States to restrain some parties and candidates from access to public facilities for media campaigns and outdoor advertising through exorbitant fees or outright denial.This often leads to the mutual destruction of advertising materials such as billboards, resulting in altercation and violence involving supporters of opposing political parties.
He assured that their complaints will be discussed at the next meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) scheduled for Friday this week.
