INEC Unveils 2023 General Elections Review

By Milcah Tanimu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled its comprehensive report on the 2023 general elections.

Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, announced the release of the report in a statement issued on Friday.

After nearly a year since the 2023 general elections, INEC finally made the report public, addressing concerns raised by some Nigerians regarding delays in uploading presidential election results to the INEC result viewing portal.

Olumekun revealed that the report underwent thorough review and was approved for publication during the commission’s weekly meeting held on Thursday. This move, he emphasized, aligns with INEC’s commitment to transparency, as demonstrated in previous electoral cycles.

The comprehensive report spans 526 pages, organized into 13 chapters, and enriched with 60 tables, 14 boxes, and 10 graphs. It offers a detailed analysis of the election’s key processes, accomplishments, challenges, and valuable insights gained.

Highlighting key outcomes, Olumekun pointed out significant shifts in political representation across Nigeria, with four political parties securing gubernatorial victories, seven parties clinching senatorial seats, and eight and nine parties emerging victorious in federal constituencies and state legislatures, respectively.

Moreover, the report underscores the crucial role played by technological advancements, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, in enhancing electoral integrity and curbing fraudulent practices.

Addressing concerns surrounding the INEC Result Viewing portal, the report delves into technical challenges encountered during the upload of polling unit results for the presidential election.

In addition to technological aspects, the report covers various dimensions of the electoral process, including logistics, security arrangements, staff recruitment and training, inclusivity measures, and the electoral framework.

Olumekun emphasized INEC’s openness to receiving feedback to guide future electoral reforms and enhancements, signaling the commission’s commitment to continually improving the electoral process.