By NewsBits
The Joint Election Observation Mission of the International Republican Institute, IRI, and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), led by former President of Malawi, Joyce Banda, says the 2023 election fell short of the reasonable expectations of Nigerians.
According to the 40-member delegation of the two United States Institutes, logistical challenges and multiple incidents political violence overshadowed the electoral process and impeded a substantial number of voters from participating. The Joint Election Observation Mission stated these in their preliminary statement and recommendations in Abuja on Monday.
They explained that members of the team were deployed across all six geopolitical regions of the country to observe all stages of the voting process; stressing that their observations informed the preliminary findings and practical recommendations to improve future elections.
The preliminary statement reads, “The mission notes that despite the much-needed reforms to the The Electoral Act 2022, the election fell well short of Nigerian citizens’ reasonable expectations.
“Logistical challenges and multiple incidents of political violence overshadowed the electoral process and impeded a substantial number of voters from participating. Ongoing currency and fuel shortages also imposed excessive burdens on voters and election officials, and Nigerian marginalized groups, especially women, continue to face barriers to seeking and obtaining political office.”
The statement insisted that late opening of polling locations and logistical failures created tensions and the secrecy of the ballot was compromised in some polling units given overcrowding. It added, “At the close of the polls, challenges with the electronic transfer of results and their upload to a public portal in a timely manner. undermined citizen confidence at a crucial moment of the process.
“Moreover, inadequate communication and lack of transparency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about their cause and extent created confusion and eroded voters’ trust in the process. The combined effect of these problems disenfranchised Nigerian voters in many areas, although the scope and scale is currently unknown.”
Nonetheless, the delegation maintained that despite these issues, Nigerians demonstrated their commitment to the democratic process. According to IRI and NDI, voters demonstrated resilience and resolve to have their voices heard through the ballot.
“As the nation awaits the results of the February 25 polls and the Nigerian people prepare for upcoming gubernatorial elections, we urge political actors and their supporters to remain calm and exercise restraints,” the US Institutes appealed. They, however, lauded INEC; saying it administered a nationwide election according to the electoral calendar for the first time in the country’s recent history.
The delegation tasked stakeholders, especially INEC, the government, political actors, and civil society to redouble their efforts to deliver on citizens expectations for transparent and inclusive elections, and to ensure that electoral outcomes are a credible expression of the voters’ will.
