Elections: INEC’s full autonomy will restore voters’ confidence – CODE

…Calls on opposition parties to pursue peace
Following the many controversies that trailed the announcement of President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the just concluded Presidential election, Connected Development (CODE) has said that the only way to achieve electorate confidence in the electoral process is through electoral reforms that will strengthen as well as ensure Independent National Electoral Commission’s complete autonomy which will in turn provide more effective and objective process.

Presenting its final report on the Nigerian 2019 Presidential Election held on February 23, in Abuja, the Head of Mission, CODE Election Observation team, Hamzat Lawal, called on INEC to develop result-management process using competent and secure technology; as well as provide a more conducive environment for collating results in regions.

While calling on opposition parties and other stakeholders to act responsibly, to pursue peaceful and legal resolution of their grievances and to uphold the integrity of the political and electoral process, Lawal strongly condemned all election-based violence which resulted in the burning of thumb-printed ballot papers in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area in Lagos, killing of a young voter at a polling unit in Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State; death of two persons in Nembe, Bayelsa State, death of 16 persons in Rivers State and several degrees of injuries sustained by citizens.

“There should be policies and regulations guiding campaign financing to enhance accountability of political candidates and also legal measures should be introduced to address abuse of state resources.

“INEC must introduce reforms that allow for Nigerians in the diaspora to vote the candidate of their choice.

“Under-age voting is a violation of the Nigerian constitution and it is prevalent in some regions of the country. INEC must work to curb this issue as it serves as an indictment on the credibility of election process and ultimately a threat to our democracy.

“Appropriate authorities should investigate all allegations of violence and cases of violent acts, as well as vandalism and destruction of election materials and electorates’ properties, in accordance with the rule of law, and perpetrators held legally responsible,” he said.

However, he also commended INEC, for allowing the will of the people to be heard, and for remaining firm on her duty regardless of pressures from political actors aimed at truncating the electoral process.

Furthermore, Lawal urged citizens to support INEC, particularly the Resident Electoral Commissioners, and they should come out en mass to vote their candidate of choice for the gubernatorial elections.

CODE would like to acknowledge the commitment made by various volunteers —the field observers who sent in reports to Uzabe for public awareness to ensure transparency; their time and resources were critical to the conduct of an objective electoral process.

CODE also commended Nigerians, particularly her youth, for their loyalty and resilience in the face of insurmountable pressure. This election was a test of the magnanimity of Nigeria’s democratic consolidation, the organisation added.