March 11: CODE urges INEC to restore confidence in electoral process

Following the outcome of the just concluded presidential election, Connected Development, a Civil Society Organization has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do the right thing and save the country’s democracy.

CODE, while presenting an interim statement on the conduct of the 2023 presidential and national assembly polls noted that the just concluded elections fail to meet the expectations of the Nigerian masses.

The Chief Executive, Hamzat Lawal said despite assurances from INEC, the elections still fell short of credible polls both nationally and internationally.

He identified delays in the deployment of elections materials and other logistics,late opening of polls,professional misconduct of security personnel, INEC’s non-adherence to the use of BVAS for biometric accreditation and the failure to transmit results from polling unit electronically in accordance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC 2023 Electoral guidelines as some of the issues that marred the polls.

Lawal also stated that INEC can still build confidence in the minds of Nigerians by doing the right thing in the gubernatorial and state assembly elections come March 11, 2023.

He said “As Nigerians prepare to go to the polls for State elections on 11th March 2023, Connected Development and her partners appeal to INEC to ensure that the many challenges that marred the credibility of the Presidential election should be handled.

“More importantly, INEC should ensure transparency of the result management and collation process by timely upload of polling unit results on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV), to stand a chance at redeeming her already deflated public confidence, and her almost blown-away goodwill which they have enjoyed from Nigerians.”