Nigeria Elections Below Expectations

Nigeria Elections Below Expectations–NDI/IRI Observers.

The Joint Election Observation Mission (JEOM) of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) have provided assessment on the Nigerian elections.

They delivered their opening remarks on the Nigerian presidential and national assembly elections.

The leader, Dr. Joyce Banda, a former president of Malawi, praised the populace for "their resilience and enthusiasm" on Monday in Abuja.

“Despite large crowds in some polling stations and long waits, Nigerian voters demonstrated commitment to participate in the process and a strong desire to have their voices heard,” Banda said.

The mission noted that despite the reforms to the Electoral Act 2022, “the election fell well short of Nigerian citizens’ reasonable expectations”, while the electoral commission lacked transparency.

According to Banda, the election process was dominated by logistical issues and several instances of political violence, which prevented a sizable number of voters from casting their ballots.

Although disadvantaged groups, particularly women, continue to encounter obstacles to running for and winning political office, NDI/IRI verified that shortages of cash and fuel placed an unnecessary burden on voters and election authorities.

The delegation said that because of congestion in certain polling units, late opening of polling stations and logistical mishaps led to tensions and jeopardised the secrecy of the ballot.

After the election, Banda claimed that issues with the electronic transmission of results and their prompt upload to a public site eroded citizen trust in a vital phase of the process.

“Inadequate communication and lack of transparency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about their cause and extent created confusion and eroded voters’ trust in the process.

“The combined effect of these problems disenfranchised Nigerian voters in many areas, although the scope and scale is currently unknown,” the ex-President added.

The statement, however, commended INEC for conducting the general elections according to the electoral calendar “for the first time in the country’s recent history”.

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