2023 presidential poll: INEC and its failed promises

In 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) promised to deliver the best general elections in Nigeria in 2023, however circumstances around the 2023 general elections is making lots of Nigerians doubt the sincerity of INEC.

Despite repeated assurances from INEC over BVAS reliability, it failed in some many polling units across the country, disenfranchising many Nigerians from casting votes for their preferred candidates.

From Lagos to Delta, Edo, Rivers and many other parts in the north, there were complaints over the unreliability of the BVAS.

Also INEC assurance that results from polling units will be automatically uploaded on its server also failed as it suspiciously crashed midway into the election, thereby fueling speculations that it was being manipulated.

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Yiaga Africa expressed concern over the delay in uploading polling unit results for the presidential election on INEC’s Election Result Portal.

According to the civil society organisation, no result was uploaded after voting and counting ended in several polling units as of 7 pm on Election Day.

Similarly, former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Party, ADC, Kingsley Moghalu has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of disappointing Nigerians by “tactically disenfranchising” Nigerians.

Moghalu lamented that INEC is delaying in uploading results on BVAS while police are colluding with thugs against voters.

In a series of tweets, the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, described INEC as its own worst enemy.

According to Moghalu: “What I saw, past, present and future that made me decide to exit partisan politics in Nigeria completely: We aren’t ready for real democracy. Too much poverty & the financial corruption it enables. Too many evil, powerful vested interests. Weak institutions. Illiterate electorate.

“Disappointed that @inecnigeria, despite all assurances they gave us, has disappointed again. “Tactical disenfranchisement”. Police are colluding with thugs. Delayed uploading of results to BVAS. Whether it’s just operational incapacity, human factor, or more, the result is the same.

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“The people showed enthusiasm, but the system let them down in too many polling units – delayed arrivals of INEC officials, violence in certain states, and delayed uploading of results. I see SANS on parade ahead.”

Also, a retired diplomat and political analyst, Ambassador Joe Keshi, berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its shoddy handling of Saturday’s presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections across the country.

Ambassador Keshi in a telephone conversation with National Daily, said the alleged shutdown of INEC’s server in the middle of a general election calls for concern, and may be interpreted otherwise if not handled properly.

“INEC is supposed to be on top of its game. It could have done its best to organize a seamless, near perfect election, but this controversy has marred the whole process.

“Everything we expected to go bad has gone bad like in Lagos. We knew there were going to be some potential suppression and violence in Lagos. We have suspicions. And I expected security forces to be on top of their games, but like expected, both the INEC and the security forces have failed Nigerians.

According to him, it is not just in Lagos, but in other states where many voters were disenfranchised due to no fault of theirs.

“Many Nigerians are complaining, and the silence of INEC over its refusal to upload polling units’ results in real time is making lots of Nigerians suspicious of INEC’s neutrality in this election.