…By Babatunde Lucas for TDPel Media.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that a post-election review of the 2023 general election will take place on July 4.
This review, in line with INEC’s established practice, aims to assess various aspects of the electoral process.
Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, made this announcement in a statement released in Abuja.
Background and Election Outcome
Bola Tinubu, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged as the winner of the February 25 presidential election, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and other presidential candidates.
However, Atiku and Obi contested the election results declared by INEC and have taken their grievances to court.
Purpose and Duration of the Review
The review process, set to begin with a meeting of the Resident Electoral Commissioners on July 4, will culminate in the Commission’s retreat on August 5.
Okoye emphasized that the review will encompass all aspects of the electoral activities conducted before, during, and after the elections.
Its primary objectives are to draw lessons from the process and determine a way forward.
Stakeholder Involvement and Timeline
Okoye highlighted that the review will involve both internal and external engagements.
At the state level, the internal review will include INEC’s regular and ad hoc staff, such as Resident Electoral Commissioners, Electoral Officers, Heads of Departments, Administrative Secretaries, as well as selected Presiding Officers and Collation/Returning Officers.
The external engagement will encompass key stakeholders, including political parties, security agencies, election observers, the media, and service providers involved in the transportation of personnel and materials during the election.
A detailed schedule of activities and timelines will be released after the meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners on July 4, 2023.
Conclusion:
INEC has announced its plans to conduct a post-election review of the 2023 general election, beginning on July 4. This review aims to assess various aspects of the electoral process and gather actionable recommendations from stakeholders.
The process will involve internal and external engagements, including INEC staff, political parties, security agencies, election observers, the media, and service providers.
The review is expected to provide insights for strengthening institutional capacity and enhancing processes and procedures for future elections.