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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept report released by the European Union Election Observer Mission (EU/EOM) in good faith.
IPAC had told journalists about 2 weeks ago that it would understudy the report and come out with its verdict.
Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, IPAC Chairman, Yabaji Sani, explained that INEC should learn from the lapses recorded and do better in subsequent polls.
He said the EU report was based on a number of assumptions derived from an insignificant coverage of 0.059% and 0.033% of the 186,227 and 187,651 electoral locations for the national and state elections on 25th February and 18th March 2023 respectively.
“It is important at this point to urge the Commission to receive EU/EOM report in good faith and to consider the recommendations contained therein with a view to taking necessary actions and proposing required changes in the electoral legal framework to implement those recommendations that will further strengthen our electoral process and consolidate our democracy.”
He said since IPAC is not an opposition party or a mouthpiece of the APC would refrain from indulging in the passion, sentiments and bias that have characterised the comments and observations on the EU/EOM report.
But he said the Council would give the Mission and its report the benefit of the doubt and take the position that some of the recommendations are useful and should be considered in the preparation and conduct of future elections in Nigeria.
He, however, said the credibility of the election was underscored by the fact that in some of the States of the federation, the House of Assembly was dominated by members from different political parties from the executive and in the unpredictable outcome wherein many candidates including incumbent State Governors lost in their constituencies.
The Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP),. argued that the election witnessed an uptick in the participation of youth, Persons with Disability (PwDs) and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) which could be attributed to the policy of INEC to mobilise them and facilitate their participation in the election.
He added: “We do acknowledge that there were challenges during and after the elections as in other elections, it is the position of IPAC that lessons have been learnt and matters regarding the elections are before the various Election Petition Tribunals across the country.
“It is important at this point to urge the Commission to receive EU/EOM report in good faith and to consider the recommendations contained therein with a view to taking necessary actions and proposing required changes in the electoral legal framework to implement those recommendations that will further strengthen our electoral process and consolidate our democracy.
“IPAC also urges all aggrieved candidates who have already filed cases at the various Election Petition Tribunals to patiently await the verdict of the Tribunal.
“IPAC also urges the President and the National Assembly to take necessary steps to support INEC in the efficient deployment of technology in future election to reduce post-election disagreements and litigations.
“It is only in this way that the Nigerian people who are the true sovereign will have enhanced confidence in the democratic process.In conclusion, IPAC observations of the 2023 General Election are as follows:
“In terms of constitutional reform, we have improved tremendously, as Section 65 of the Electoral Act, 2022 which gave the Commission the powers to review any declaration or return made by a returning officer where such a return was not made voluntarily or made contrary to the provisions of thelaw was effectively exercised in Adamawa, Abia, Kano and Enugu States.
“This is a major leap from the past where a declaration by a returning officer is final and can only be challenged in the Tribunal;
“On the appointment of INEC Commissioners, it is a constitutional issue exercised by the Executive;
“IPAC is of the view that any candidate nominated for these positions must be thoroughly screened by the security agencies and the Senate to prevent persons of unworthy character from becoming a Commission member or Resident Electoral Commissioner;
“On Access to election results in real-time, it seems to us that the EU/EOM either did not understand the process or got the procedure wrong. After voting and counting of votes, the result is recorded on form EC8A and handed over to Party Agents right there at the Polling Unit.
“This is real-time access to election result for Political Parties through their Agents. Similarly the same result is recorded on form E60 and mandatorily pasted at each Polling Unit.
“This is a real-time access to the results and other interested observers. The same result is also handed over to the Security Agencies;
“The introduction of the IREV portal by the Commission is an added value and an improvement in INEC’s effort to promote credibility and transparency by making election results at the Polling Units available to citizens in real time to interrogate, confirm and validate election outcomes.
“Elections are won and lost at the Polling Unit and uploading results on the IREV or any other INEC portal cannot replace the manual collation of election results as prescribed by law;
“Most of the issues raised by the EU EOM in their report are centred on constitutional amendments which IPAC had earlier taken note of and called the attention of the National Assembly to it.
“It is expected that the current National Assembly will review and make the necessary amendments before the next elections;We thank the EU EOM for their partnership and assure them of co- operation going forward.”
