The Independent National Electoral Commission has insisted that the 2023 poll was free and fair, noting that it reflected the wishes of Nigerians.
The commission added that an analysis of the poll showed that no party dominated it and the spread of results across party lines was better than in previous elections conducted in the country.
INEC’s position was contained in a 526-page document titled, ‘The Report of 2023 General Election,’ made available to Saturday PUNCH.
The commission, however, noted that the currency swap by the Central Bank of Nigeria, attacks on INEC facilities, and a few glitches were the challenges encountered during the elections.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, described the poll as unique “in terms of keeping to the timetable, new 80 clauses in the Electoral Act, and introduction of new technologies which made voting easier.”
Olumekun stated, “In keeping with our tradition over the last four electoral cycles, and our commitment to transparency, we are pleased to announce the release of the official INEC report on the 2023 general election.
“The report showcases the election’s unparalleled diversity in party representation, demonstrating significant democratic progress. This election saw four political parties winning governorship races, seven parties winning senatorial seats, eight in federal constituencies and nine in state legislatures, illustrating a broad shift in political representation across Nigeria.”
He further stated that the 2023 general elections were “perhaps the best planned and most innovative election in Nigeria”.
“The election witnessed the highest number of eligible voters and voting locations across the country with the participation of over one million election duty officials and the deployment of enormous logistic requirements including over 100,000 vehicles and about 4,000 boats protected by gunboats,” the report added.
Meanwhile, political parties have criticised the 2023 general elections report released by the INEC.
The chief spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko, blamed INEC for covering its “illegality,” adding that the release of the report was medicine after death.
Tanko said, “This is medicine after death. INEC should have made this particular clarification at the time of the election and promised to make amends and pick up from where they stopped.
“However, what is happening is that INEC is trying to cover its tracks after the judiciary had one way or the other legalised their illegality.
“Let me explain better. If INEC says that this is what they are going to do and later on goes to the court to say that they have the right to do manual collation then the court justifies that particular action, it is unacceptable. It is a conspiracy.”
In the same vein, the presidential candidate and former chairman, of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yabagi Sani, urged INEC to deal with the culprit involved in the glitches it encountered during the elections.
“Whoever was responsible for the glitches should be dealt with in a manner that should serve as a deterrent for the future because accountability is key.
“INEC should be commended for coming out clean. They should be given a pass mark. We will keep improving in our electoral process. We can now point out exactly what happened,” Sani noted.
The spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Debo Ologunagba, when contacted said the party needed to critically look at the report before making its decisions known.
But the Publicity Director of the All Progressives Congress, Bala Ibrahim, said, “Nigerians should salute INEC for being honest and sincere by admitting errors or failures on its side. Whatever we do, we should admit that we are humans and we are not infallible.
“Everything that is technologically based or IT-based is liable to some failures. Even in established democracies where they have perfect infrastructures on IT, they still have glitches here and there.”
