2023 polls: INEC receives 215 case files from Police

•Says last election most meticulously prepared

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday confirmed that it has received 215 case files from the Nigeria Police following their arrest and the conclusion of investigation into electoral offences arising from the 2023 General Election.
This is as the commission declared that the 2023 general election was one of the most meticulously prepared for in recent times.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu stated these in his opening address at a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, in Abuja .The Commission, Yakubu pointed out, is already working with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to prosecute the alleged offenders.
According to the INEC Chairman, “I can also confirm that we have received 215 case files from the Nigeria Police following their arrest and the conclusion of investigation into electoral offences arising from the 2023 General Election.
“We are working with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to prosecute the alleged offenders.
“Already, the NBA has submitted a list of 427 lawyers across the country who have volunteered to render pro bono services to the Commission.
“They are not charging legal fees but by mutual agreement, the Commission will provide a token amount to cover for filing fees/expenses”, he explained.
Speaking about the the last general election, the INEC Chairman said, “Compared to some previous elections, we believe that the 2023 General Election was one of the most meticulously prepared for in recent times.
“Learning from previous experiences, we started preparations immediately after the 2019 General Election, carefully ticking the necessary boxes over a four-year period.
“It is the need to learn from both the positives and the shortcomings that makes the stocktaking that we are embarking on today essential.
“Among the positive stories is that the security challenge which threatened to derail the elections did not materialize. “Concerns that the polls will be disrupted by the perennial insecurity across the country fizzled out on Election Day as the elections were largely peaceful.
“Despite currency and fuel challenges and widespread attacks on our personnel and facilities nationwide, the Commission proceeded with the election as scheduled.
“The first set of elections, the Presidential and National Assembly, held as planned for the first time in the last four General Elections conducted in the country.
“Accreditation of voters using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has generally been scored very high by voters.
‘Our records show that the success rate for BVAS accreditation stands at 98% compared to the Smart Card Reader’s 29.2% during the 2019 General Election.
“Above all, despite the divergent opinions about the outcome of the election, the overall outlook suggests that it is a fair reflection of a complex multi-party democracy.
“We wish to remind Nigerians that elections were held for a total of 1,491 constituencies made up of one Presidential, 28 Governorship, 109 Senatorial, 360 Federal Constituencies and 993 State Assembly seats.
“Our record shows that these elections have produced the most diverse outcomes ever recorded since 1999. “Today, five political parties produced State Governors, seven parties won Senatorial seats, eight are represented in the House of Representatives and nine in State Houses of Assembly. “Clearly, the 10th National Assembly is certainly the most diverse in party representation since 1999.
“In some States around the country, different political parties controlled the legislative and executive arms of Government.
“What is clear from these records also is that the days of single party dominance of our national politics are probably gone.
“Furthermore, many prominent candidates lost in the constituencies they contested, and political parties lost in some of their presumed strongholds”, he said
The INEC Chairman however acknowledged that there were also some challenges, which were structural, infrastructural and human in nature.
According to him, “Indeed, it is in furtherance of our determination to address the challenges as we prepare for future elections that the Commission is commencing its post-election review engagements today.
“We are presently looking at all the evidence of infractions during the election, including the prosecution of offenders.
“We are looking at the activities of all actors involved in the election, including some of our high-ranking officials.
“I can confirm that the Nigeria Police concluded its investigation of the conduct of our Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State and submitted the case file to us.
“Appropriate action will be taken in a matter of days and Nigerians will be fully informed”, he said.