The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has defended the integrity of the 2023 general elections, asserting that it was free, fair, and reflective of the wishes of Nigerians.
The commission highlighted the diverse representation of political parties in the election results as evidence of democratic progress.
According to Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the 2023 elections were unique due to adherence to the timetable, new clauses in the Electoral Act, and the introduction of new technologies to facilitate voting.
Olumekun emphasized the extensive planning and innovative measures undertaken by INEC for the election, which involved the participation of over one million election duty officials, deployment of logistic requirements including vehicles and boats, and the protection of voting locations.
However, political parties have criticized the INEC report, labeling it as a post-election rationalization. Some parties accused INEC of trying to cover up its mistakes and legalizing irregularities through judicial means. They called for accountability and urged INEC to address the glitches encountered during the elections.
Yabagi Sani, a presidential candidate and former chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, stressed the importance of holding those responsible for the election glitches accountable to serve as a deterrent for the future.
While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, reserved comments pending a critical review of the report, the All Progressives Congress (APC) praised INEC for its honesty and sincerity in admitting errors. The APC spokesperson, Bala Ibrahim, acknowledged the inevitability of technological failures but commended INEC’s transparency.
