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• Insists 2023 poll reflected people’s wishes
By Oluseye Ojo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said despite enduring a number of challenges, such as currency swaps and attacks on its facilities, the commission’s commitment to transparency and adherence to electoral laws ensured that the 2023 general elections accurately reflected the wishes of the Nigerian electorate.
In a 526-page report titled the ‘Report of 2023 General Election, the electoral umpire highlighted the unique aspects of the election, including the use of new technologies to make voting easier and the broad representation of political parties across the country.
According to a statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun, the report stated that the 2023 poll was the best planned and most innovative election in Nigeria, with the highest number of eligible voters and voting locations.
“Given the meticulous preparations for the election, the transparency of the entire electoral process, from the casting of the vote, the publication of the number of collected Permanent Voters Card for the election down, to the polling unit level for the first time ever, the presence of security personnel, party agents, election observers and the media along the entire voting process and result collation chain, as well as the layers of stringent checks and control put in place by the Commission before making a declaration and return for an election, the outcome of the election, based on immutable provisions in the electoral legal framework is a true reflection of the wishes of the electorate,” the report said.
The commission noted that over one million election duty officials were involved, along with the deployment of massive logistical requirements, including over 100,000 vehicles and about 4,000 boats protected by gunboats.
The commission admitted that it faced challenges during the election, including attacks on INEC facilities and a shortage of cash, due to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s currency swap policy.
“During the period between the 2019 General Election and 12th December 2022, the Commission suffered over 50 attacks on its buildings and facilities in various LGAs and State Offices across 15 states of the federation in which vehicles, office equipment and election materials were destroyed.
“Furthermore, the currency swap by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the limit placed on cash withdrawals from banks constituted encumbrances on the commission’s operations for the payment to some unbanked service providers and the ability of particularly transport providers to service and fuel vehicles in boats and motorcycles in readiness for Election Duty,” the report read in part.
The fuel scarcity across the country and inadequate transportation options were said to have also posed logistical challenges for the smooth running of the election.
The report also revealed the innovations introduced by INEC in the lead-up to the 2023 election, such as the conversion of Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements into fully-fledged Polling Units. This expansion of voter access to polling units and the relocation of polling units to more appropriate locations aimed to ensure unencumbered access for all voters.
