In response to overwhelming complaints regarding the conduct of the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed its intention to reform its result management system.
The commission admitted that its result management system had been the subject of litigation, necessitating a thorough evaluation to find areas for improvement.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, stressed the importance of examining both strengths and weaknesses in the result management system during a post-election review meeting with Collation and Returning Officers in Abuja on Friday.
The commission’s goal is to resolve Nigerians’ concerns and instill better trust in the voting process.
During the 2023 General Election, Yakubu emphasised the significance of frank talks and learning from practical experiences.
The collation and returning officers were asked to share their perspectives on various aspects of the election process, such as recruitment, training, and deployment procedures, logistics for movement to and from their assigned locations, the integrity of collation and declaration procedures, the role of technology in result management, security measures for officers and collation centres, and the conduct of party agents, election observers, and security personnel duly authorised.
While some concerns are still being litigated and legal considerations are being considered, the commission hopes to gain useful insights from the officers’ experiences to influence future reforms.
The evaluation strives to improve the openness, efficiency, and overall integrity of the electoral process, ensuring that future elections are fair and accurate.
Nigerians and stakeholders are closely watching the outcomes and potential adjustments that could strengthen the election process and restore public trust in the democratic system as the INEC begins its evaluation of the result management system.
