2023 elections: We’re reviewing concerns raised by Nigerians – INEC Chair

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu said on Friday that some Nigerians have raised concern about result management at the various elections during thrb2023 general elections.

He said “issues have arisen and some Nigerians have raised concerns about result management at various levels. While some of the issues are subject of litigations and therefore sub judice, we can nevertheless discuss them broadly and most importantly share experience on the way forward.

“It is therefore the Commission’s expectation that at this meeting, we will identify areas of strength and weaknesses as well as the necessary reforms that we need to introduce going forward”.

Yakubu spoke at the commission’s post-election review meeting with Collation and returning officers who participated in the 2023 general election. The meeting is the fourth in the series of review meeting to take stocks of the conduct of the 2023 general elections and fashion the way forward.

He said “You may recall that on 4th July 2023, we met with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). Thereafter, the RECs met in the various States of the federation with our regular staff and ad hoc officials, including those who presided over the elections at polling unit level. Two days ago, we held yet another meeting with our Electoral Officers (EOs) and the leadership of the land and maritime workers’ unions who were engaged to provide logistic support for the movement of personnel and materials. Today, we are meeting with yet another important category of election officials

“The Commission is aware that as collation and returning officers, you worked under extremely challenging circumstances by tediously and manually completing designated forms as provided by law and either moved them to the next level of collation or concluded the processes as Returning Officers.” He said that when the review engagements are exhausted, a comprehensive report will be prepared.

Chairman of the Planning, Monitoring and Strategic Committee of the Commission, Prof. Rhoda Gomos said the sole authority of INEC with the constitutional mandate is to prepare and conduct all public elections and referenda, adding that it is the Commission’s policy to organize post-election reviews after successful conduct and conclusion of any election.

“Today, we are here to attend to the question of “how far and how well” we performed in our respective duties during the election. As field workers, we expect to hear from you the challenges encountered and how you resolved them in the field bearing in mind that your key recommendations on this review exercise will definitely enhance the Commission in planning for future elections,” she said.