INEC Speaks On Cancelling 2023 Presidential Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has boldly declared that the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria will not be nullified, despite the alleged infractions being raised by some stakeholders.

INEC’s response to the petitions by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, shows that they are not swayed by baseless claims and frivolous accusations.

Atiku’s petition is heartbreaking as it reveals how the results of the February 25 presidential election have put the entire judicial system of the country on trial. The fact that there is “empirical evidence” of how the presidential election results were manipulated in favour of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, is enough to send shivers down one’s spine.

It is deeply disappointing that INEC, through its lawyer, Abubakar Mahmood, held that the alleged controversies trailing the final result declaration, as claimed by PDP and Atiku, were not substantial enough to cancel the entire process. It is even more disheartening that the electoral body denied working in favour of any party or candidate, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

It is a sad day for democracy in Nigeria when the electoral umpire, whose primary responsibility is to ensure free, fair, and credible elections, blatantly disregards the wishes of the people and chooses to side with the oppressors. INEC’s actions have dealt a severe blow to the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians who yearn for a better future for their country.

In addition, the electoral commission vehemently denied any bias towards any political party or candidate. They stressed that the presidential election was carried out in strict compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022.

According to INEC “No act of non-compliance (if any) was substantial enough to have affected the outcome of the election or result declared.”

INEC added that, “The summation of the result declared is consistent with the number of duly accredited voters. There was no act of infraction, as alleged by the petitioners, that is substantial enough to nullify the election.”

INEC made it clear to the tribunal that the claims of the petitioners were entirely false, and the 2023 presidential election was indeed free, fair, and credible. They pointed out that the use of technological devices, such as the Permanent Voter Card (PVC), Electronic Voter Register (EVR), and BVAS, among others, greatly contributed to the ease, transparency, and integrity of the election process. However, the BVAS machine was not meant for real-time transmission of election results for the purpose of collation.

Furthermore, the commission clarified that the public statements made by its chairman and other officials, which were referred to in paragraph 19 of the petition, were simply assuring the public of its commitment and determination to continue using technology and technological devices to improve the quality, transparency, integrity, and credibility of the electoral process as stipulated under the Electoral Act 2022.

It stated, “Contrary to the assertion of the petitioners in paragraph 19 of the Petition, the 1st Respondent has no electronic collation system by which real-time transmission of polling unit results was to be made or that such alleged electronic transmission of polling unit results was to form the basis for the collation of results at various collation levels.

“The 1st Respondent further states that although it is empowered by the Regulations to prescribe an ‘Electronic Collation System’, none was prescribed by it for use during the 2023 general election, including the presidential election of 25 February 2023.