The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has emphasized that the 2023 election was conducted fairly, stating that it "reflected the wishes of Nigerians."
According to a 526-page document titled "The Report of 2023 General Election," released by INEC, the commission highlighted that no party dominated the election and that the distribution of results among parties was better compared to previous elections.
However, INEC acknowledged challenges such as the currency swap by the Central Bank of Nigeria, attacks on its facilities, and a few operational hiccups during the electoral process.
Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, described the election as unique due to factors like adhering to the timetable, the introduction of 80 new clauses in the Electoral Act, and the implementation of new technologies to facilitate voting.
He noted, "The election witnessed the highest number of eligible voters and voting locations across the country," along with significant logistical operations involving over one million election duty officials, 100,000 vehicles, and approximately 4,000 boats.
Despite INEC's assertion of transparency and progress, some political parties criticized the election report.
Yunusa Tanko, the chief spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, accused INEC of attempting to cover its "illegality" and labeled the release of the report as "medicine after death."
Tanko emphasized the need for accountability, especially regarding glitches encountered during the elections.
Similarly, Yabagi Sani, a presidential candidate and former chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, called for accountability regarding the election glitches, stressing that those responsible should be dealt with to deter future occurrences.
On the other hand, the All Progressives Congress (APC) commended INEC for its honesty in admitting errors and failures, acknowledging the inherent possibility of technological or IT-based failures even in established democracies.
Debo Ologunagba, the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, stated that the party needed to critically review the report before making its decisions known.
Meanwhile, Bala Ibrahim, the Publicity Director of the All Progressives Congress, urged Nigerians to acknowledge INEC's honesty and sincerity in admitting errors, emphasizing the human fallibility inherent in technologically-based systems.
