Emmanuel Daudu
In an explosive disclosure, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has come under intense scrutiny following its chairman’s admission of “criminal mishandling” in the recent Edo governorship election.
The revelation has cast serious doubts on the credibility and operational integrity of Nigeria’s foremost electoral body, as INEC faces mounting criticism for repeated flaws in election oversight and execution.
This was contained in a statement signed and made available to journalists in Abuja by the President, Northern Initiative for Democracy and Justice, Amb. Nurudeen Musa Sadique.
According to the statement, INEC Chairman said the Edo election was marred by a series of fundamental mistakes and procedural lapses. Among these was an alarming inconsistency between manually collated results and figures uploaded to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IREV).
This divergence in results, especially for such a significant election, has raised questions about the reliability of INEC’s operations, with INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu reportedly expressing disappointment over the handling of the election despite substantial financial investments to ensure transparency and accuracy.
Adding to the controversy, the Kogi State governorship election held on November 11, 2023, witnessed further complications.
Critics argue that INEC’s performance continues to decline, despite technological advancements and legislative measures aimed at curbing electoral fraud.
Among the promised solutions was the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), designed to eliminate over-voting and other malpractices. However, the failure to implement BVAS consistently, as observed in Kogi Central, has fueled widespread disillusionment with the electoral body.
Ambassador Nurudeen Musa Sadique, President of the Northern Initiative for Democracy and Justice (NIDJ), voiced his organization’s deep frustration with INEC’s recent performance.
Sadique noted that despite BVAS’s potential to ensure accurate results, trained INEC staff in Kogi Central allegedly disregarded its use, undermining public confidence in the fairness of the process.
When cases involving alleged electoral fraud reached the judiciary, they were often dismissed on technicalities, disregarding strong evidence of BVAS bypassing, according to Sadique.
“Corruption has unfortunately become pervasive within our electoral and judicial systems, further eroding trust in the democratic process,” Sadique remarked.
He emphasized that this deterioration in credibility is apparent not only in INEC’s handling of elections but also in the judiciary’s perceived leniency when examining evidence of electoral malpractice.
A particularly contentious point was the discrepancy in voter turnout between different regions of Kogi State, with some local government areas showing unusually high results compared to others.
Critics argue that such inconsistencies suggest electoral manipulation, casting doubt on the validity of the results.
Sadique also addressed the reputational damage these irregularities have inflicted on Prof. Yakubu, a former academician. “Professor Yakubu’s leadership of INEC has regrettably tarnished the integrity of Nigerian academics. We expected better from him, and his performance has been a major disappointment,” Sadique asserted.
With the Ondo State governorship election approaching, questions abound over INEC’s preparedness.
Sadique warned that only a comprehensive overhaul could restore public faith in the institution.
“The Northern Initiative for Democracy and Justice will continue to demand transparency, accountability, and improvements from INEC,” he said.
“Nigerians are watching, and we expect real progress in future elections.”
This statement from NIDJ echoes the sentiments of many Nigerians, who are calling for an electoral body that upholds democracy without fear or favor, ensuring fair representation for all citizens.
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