The Group requested the introduction of legal timelines for testing new electoral technology into Nigeria’s electoral

legal framework during their verification media conference on the recently concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

A comprehensive audit and inquiry were also requested by Yiaga Afrito to identify the causes of the delay in the online upload of election results.

Yiaga Africa further Condemned the cases of violence and disruption of the voting and results collation process by thugs and hoodlums, especially the violence targeted at National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) members and INEC staff.

In his speech, the mission’s chief observer, Barry Andrews, revealed that there were 110 observers overall, including 96 short-term observers and representatives of the European Parliament as well as the mission’s 11 core team members.

He said that extensive claims of vote-buying, voter misinformation, and a lack of preparation at crucial points in the electoral process all contributed to the poor quality of the elections.

“Fundamental freedoms of assembly and movement were largely respected, yet the full enjoyment of the latter was impeded by insufficient planning, insecurity, and the prevailing naira and fuel shortages. Abuse of incumbency by various political office holders distorted the playing field and there were widespread allegations of vote buying.”

“Overall, stakeholders had expressed confidence in INEC’s independence, professionalism, and voter information efforts, this decreased ahead of elections.

“INEC lacked efficient planning and transparency during critical stages of the electoral process, while on election day, trust in INEC was seen to further reduce due to delayed polling processes, and information gaps related to much-anticipated access to results on its Results Viewing Portal.

“The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IReV for the 2023 elections was perceived as an important step to ensure the integrity and credibility of elections.

However, delayed training of technical personnel, an inadequate mock testing exercise, and a lack of information on the election technologies diminished expectations and left room for speculation and uncertainty.”

While commending citizens for their turnout at the polls, Andrew stated that the EU would continue to monitor the collation of results as well as the March 11 governorship and state assembly elections, and would present its final reports three months after the end of the election processes, in order not to interfere with the process.

“The mission continues to follow the ongoing process related to the presidential and National Assembly elections to its conclusion and will continue its activities until the 11th of March for the governorship and local state council elections. In three months, after the end of the process, our mission will deliver a final report and will include recommendations, addressing issues,” he said.

The monitoring exercise is consistent with President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to leave a legacy of conducting the freest, fairest, and most credible election in the country’s history.

Professor Isah Mohammed, the bureau’s chairman, revealed this during a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.

He stated that the monitoring exercise, which will begin on Saturday, demonstrates President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to leaving a legacy of conducting the freest, fairest, and most credible election in the country’s history.

He added that the bureau would be working with relevant stakeholders to ensure it gets its desired results in the 36 states and the FCT.

“We shall observe whether or not a public officer in this exercise has put himself or herself in a position where his or her personal interest conflict with the duties and responsibilities assigned to him or her.

“We shall observe whether or not an officer in this exercise asks for or accept any benefit of any kind in the discharge of his or her duties.
“Observe whether or not officers in this exercise receive any inducement or bribe in the discharge of this exercise.

“And we shall observe or not a public officer in this exercise abuse his or her office or do any act prejudicial of the rights of any other person contrary to electoral principles and practices,” he said.

He added that those found wanting would be investigated and such cases would be referred to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for onward prosecution and conviction.

Ene Obi, the convener of the Situation Room, made the call while speaking on the general election preparations on Wednesday in Abuja.

Obi stated that President Muhammadu Buhari must ensure that government agencies involved in the elections fulfill their responsibilities.

She stated that the 2023 general elections would take place on Saturday to elect the President and members of the National Assembly, and on March 11 to elect 28 of the 36 state governors and members of the state legislatures.

“For the first time, the BVAS will be deployed nationwide in a general election, this makes the National Communications Commission (NCC) a key stakeholder in the process.

“The Commission will be held responsible for any network issues and internet outages on election day. Security agencies are expected to deploy adequately to hotspots as identified by INEC and other stakeholders to forestall violence.

“Today, the Election Situation Room opens with the launch of the report of our Pre-Election Assessment which presents the findings of an assessment of Nigeria’s pre-election environment ahead of the 2023 general election.

“It provides a contextual analysis of the socio-economic and political factors shaping the 2023 elections, examines INEC’s preparations for the elections, and highlights the key issues and security challenges that would define the election.”

Obi stated that the Situation Room would deploy 2,410 observers for the 2023 general elections, with at least three observers per local government area in each state of the Federation, as well as 131 persons with disabilities.

She stated that the Situation Room’s observation of the election process would consider, among other things, the electoral environment, INEC’s preparedness, election security, and political party activities.

“We are positive that citizens are ready and willing to cast their votes. Every general election in Nigeria comes with its challenges and we rely on the assurance of INEC that it is prepared to conduct the election.

” Situation Room commends the Commission for the efforts made so far despite huge challenges, however, the Commission can do more to ensure a credible poll.

“Situation Room urges INEC to do its utmost best and take final steps to strategically address the gaps and challenges highlighted.

“Situation Room specifically called on the political parties to conduct themselves peacefully and to discourage violence by their supporters,” she said.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC, made the announcement following a meeting with political parties in Abuja on Monday.

Yakubu recalled that the Commission had made efforts to redistribute voters to polling units in order to avoid the congestion that had made voting difficult in many of them across the country.

This, he claims, necessitates the redistribution of voters to new polling units in nearby locations.

“Where they are separated by distance, this must be done after consultation with the voters. This has been done by our state offices nationwide. However, there are 240 polling units without registered voters spread across 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“They range from one polling unit to 12 polling units in each state and the FCT, except for Taraba and Imo States, with 34 and 38 polling units, respectively.”

“No new registrants chose the polling units and no voters indicated interest to transfer to them during the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), mainly for security reasons. This means that no elections will hold in these polling units,” he said.

See the full statement below:

REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN, INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC), PROF. MAHMOOD YAKUBU, AT A MEETING WITH POLITICAL PARTIES HELD AT THE INEC CONFERENCE ROOM, ABUJA, ON MONDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2023

The Chairmen and Leaders of Political Parties

National Commissioners

Directors and other Senior Officials of the Commission

Members of the INEC Press Corps

Ladies and Gentlemen

I warmly welcome you all to this meeting. We appreciate that you are in the middle of your electioneering campaigns nationwide and yet found time to attend this meeting despite the short notice. We thank you for your presence and wish to assure you that the meeting will not be long so that you can resume your campaigns and other activities toward the 2023 General Election.

We have consistently assured the leaders of political parties that the Commission will regularly consult you to bring you up to date on the preparations for the forthcoming elections

Let me, therefore, start with the issue of polling units. You may recall that in 2021, with your support and that of other critical stakeholders, the Commission successfully expanded voter access to polling units 25 years after the last delimitation exercise in 1996. Consequently, the number of polling units increased from 119,973 to the current figure of 176,846.

At previous meetings, we also briefed you on our efforts to redistribute voters to the polling units to avoid the congestion that made voting cumbersome in many of them nationwide. This requires the redistribution of voters to new polling units in proximate locations. Where they are separated by distance, this must be done after consultation with the voters.

This has been done by our State offices nationwide. However, there are 240 polling units without registered voters spread across 28 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They range from one polling unit to 12 polling units in each State and the FCT, except Taraba and Imo States with 34 and 38 polling units respectively. No new registrants chose the polling units and no voters indicated interest to transfer to them during the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), mainly for security reasons. This means that no elections will hold in these polling units.

In our avowed commitment to transparency, the Commission is making available to Nigerians a comprehensive list of these polling units by name, code number, and their locations by State, Local Government, and Registration Area. With this development, the number of polling units where elections will hold nationwide on 25th February 2023 and 11th March 2023 is now 176,606.

Hard copies of the list are included in your folders for this meeting. Above all, Nigerians deserve the right to know the locations of these polling units. Accordingly, the soft copy of the list has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information and guidance.

Closely related to the distribution of voters is the identification of polling units. From the feedback we received from our officials and accredited observers following the recent nationwide mock accreditation using the BVAS, it is clear that some voters could not easily identify their polling units.

This should not happen on election day. Consequently, the Commission is advising voters to confirm the locations of their polling units through a dedicated portal on our website. In addition, all voters who have been assigned to new polling units will receive text messages from the Commission indicating their polling units.

We have also compiled the register of such voters and our State offices will give it wide publicity, especially for those who may not have provided their telephone numbers during voter registration or those whose numbers may have changed. Voters can locate and confirm their polling units before election day by sending a regular text or WhatsApp message to a dedicated telephone number. Details of the simple procedure will be uploaded to our social media platforms shortly.

As you are already aware, we have less than two weeks to the 2023 General Election. The Commission is finalizing the issuance of 1,642,386 identification tags for the Polling and Collation Agents nominated by the 18 political parties made up of 1,574,301 Polling Agents and 68,085 Collation Agents.

I urge the Chairmen and leaders of political parties to ensure that only agents accredited by the Commission and wearing the correct identification tags appear at polling units and collation centers during elections.

A situation where two or more agents claim to represent a political party, resulting in commotion at polling units or collation centers, is unacceptable. Only Identification tags issued by the Commission will be recognized on election day and violators are liable to arrest and prosecution for impersonation.

Turning to the ongoing electioneering campaigns, the Commission is concerned about violent attacks on supporters of political parties across the board, resulting in the loss of life in some cases. Let me once again appeal to the Chairman and leaders of political parties to continue to call your candidates and supporters to order.

I also call on the security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies to arrest, investigate and prosecute anyone involved in violent conduct, including incendiary statements capable of inciting a breach of the peace.

Once again, I welcome you to this meeting. Thank you and God bless.

The Commission also charged them with strictly adhering to the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2022 guidelines as well as the peace treaty they signed prior to their campaigns.

The Commission’s President, Omar Alieu Touray, stated this during the fourth and final series of the South East/South South zonal training and interactive engagement with representatives of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), as well as other stakeholders involved in the polls, to ensure credible, free, and fair general elections.

Accompanied by the Commission’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, among other officials, he also charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with ensuring unbiased conduct of the polls, noting that the importance of Nigeria in the West African sub-region could not be overstated.

Touray stated that the regional body is committed to strategic support and intervention for peaceful general elections in Nigeria in 2023, and he urged everyone to work together to achieve this goal.

He stated that the Commission would continue to work with stakeholders in this area, advising them to prevent conflicts and violence through inclusive opportunities, mediation, and dialogue.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Imo State, Prof. Sylvia Agu, who was represented by the Head of INEC’s Department of Election and Party Monitoring in the state, Victor Nwokeabia, stated that the engagement was critical because the elections were approaching.

At a press conference, Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament and the Chief Observer of the EU EOM, announced the beginning of the election observation mission.

“This is the seventh EU Election Observation Mission to Nigeria since 1999. The EU attaches great significance to these elections,” Andrews said.

He urged the Nigerian government, candidates, and political parties to ensure that the general elections are peaceful and that election-related violence is prevented.

The 2022 Electoral Act, which features new measures adopted to improve several parts of the electoral process, will be monitored by the EU EOM as part of its overall review.

Following an invitation from Nigeria’s election watchdog, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the EU deployed the EU EOM.

The EU EOM is independent in its findings from EU Member States and all EU institutions, and it has a separate and distinct mandate from the EU Delegation in Nigeria.

On Monday, January 30, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, voiced the Federal Government’s support for the initiative while addressing the 20th Edition of President Mohammadu Buhari Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023) in Abuja.

Mohammed emphasized the Buhari administration’s commitment to free, fair, and credible elections.

Reacting to the statement issued by the United State Secretary of State, Antony Blinken on plans to slam a visa ban on some Nigerians believed to be responsible for undermining democracy and credible election in Nigeria, the minister said: “Let those who undermine our democracy be sanctioned, and let them carry their cross.

“As a government, we have no reason to worry because our hands are clean.”

He added, “As a government, we are proud to say that no administration, since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, has shown more fidelity to the democratic process than ours.”

“No President, since 1999, has been as unambiguous as President Muhammadu Buhari, in word, and indeed, with regards to leaving office after the constitutionally-stipulated two terms.”

The apex bank led by Godwin Emefiele was under scrutiny for involving itself in partisan politics, which indicates a clear violation of public office.

Governor Emefiele had declared interest to run for the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while in office.

He later withdrew his intentions after President Buhari told all aspirants who were public officers to resign and rechannel their energy politics.

Weekend, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INE), announced during an election dialog, ‘The Electorate’, organized by Enough is Enough, stated that the electoral body never had an issue with the CBN since the partnership started, but that due to “current circumstances”, an alternative would be found.

Yakubu however, said the new measures as regards the election materials would be adopted starting with the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State.

He said, “I want to say that since INEC started this collaboration with the CBN, we have never experienced a single issue with the movement of materials.

The agency has been such a good partner to the commission. “But we appreciate the current circumstances, and it is for that reason, pending the time we find an alternative, that the materials for the Ekiti election will not be routed through the CBN.

“We will move the material to the airport in Akure and move the material to our office in Ado-Ekiti and do the distribution from there. We are not going to use the CBN.

When it comes to the general election, we have to look for an alternative way of doing it.”