The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, convened a significant meeting with leaders of various political parties at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
The meeting aimed to review the 2023 general elections and strategize for the upcoming off-season governorship elections scheduled for November 11, 2023, in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states.
The INEC cHAIR emphasized the critical role of engaging with stakeholders to ensure the credibility and transparency of future elections in Nigeria.
The gathering marked the first public meeting between the electoral umpire and leaders of political parties, and it was attended by the acting Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and representatives of other political parties led by the National Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yabagi Sani.
In the preceding two weeks, INEC had actively engaged with crucial stakeholders who had participated in various capacities during the conduct of the 2023 general elections. On July 24, 2023, the Commission met with accredited local elections observer groups and civil society organizations at its Abuja headquarters.
Earlier, on July 21, 2023, the INEC chair held a meeting with the National Commissioners of the organization to thoroughly review the 2023 general elections.
The presidential election, which took place on February 25, 2023, saw the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the APC as the winner. However, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, the main challengers, have taken the matter to court, alleging various electoral malpractices, voter suppression, violence, inefficiency of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV), and insisting that the poll was not free and fair.
Apart from the presidential poll, INEC also conducted National Assembly elections for both the lower and upper chambers. Additionally, governorship elections were held in 28 states with regular election cycles. The APC emerged victorious in 16 states, the PDP in 10, and the LP in one, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) secured victory in one state.
Notably, some governorship election results are currently under review and being challenged at tribunals in various states.
The general elections were not without controversy, as some top INEC officials faced allegations of misconduct. For instance, the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, drew sharp criticism from the Commission and Nigerians alike for improper and unconstitutional actions during the supplementary elections in Adamawa State.
In response to the issues raised during the elections, INEC has committed to conducting a comprehensive review of the lessons learned and charting a way forward to address any shortcomings and enhance the electoral process.
As Nigeria prepares for the upcoming off-season governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states, the meeting between the INEC Chairman and political party leaders seeks to foster cooperation and transparency, ensuring a fair and credible electoral process for the nation’s democracy.
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