The International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) Joint Election Observation Mission (IEOM) have presented their preliminary statement on the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria.

On Monday in Abuja, the leader, Dr Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi, congratulated the people for “their resilience and enthusiasm”.

“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.

Banda said logistical challenges and multiple incidents of political violence overshadowed the electoral process and impeded a substantial number of voters from participating.
NDI/IRI confirmed currency and fuel shortages imposed excessive burdens on voters and election officials while marginalized groups, especially women, continue to face barriers to seeking and obtaining political office.

The delegation observed that the late opening of polling locations and logistical failures created tensions and the secrecy of the ballot was compromised in some polling units given overcrowding.

Banda said after the polls, challenges with the electronic transfer of results and their upload to a public portal in a timely manner, undermined citizen confidence at a crucial moment 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”.

source: https://dailypost.ng/2023/02/27/nigeria-elections-below-expectations-inec-lacked-transparency-ndi-iri-observers/

cc: seun, lalasticlala

We would not accept this shame of a result from INEC.

INEC is a criminal organization

INEC has always been a disgrace. But the worse is the Supreme court

This election will never stand.

Nigerians prepare to take over your country by yourselves and for yourselves.



Tinubu will never rule Nigeria

Mahmod Yakubu is a monumental disgrace and embarrassment as far as this 2023 elections is concerned. The man and his team goofed big time.The first person to be sacked when Peter Obi come on board.

This is a dent on our leaders image. But there's little if any, to be done. The harm has already been done and the next 4years, only God will help us.

Buhari punished nigerians by withholding money in the name of giving us a free and fair election, in the end everything was nonsense

We don hear. You win its democray, you lose its rigging. We have heard it before. Orubebe did more than this and nothing happened.

GBAM!!

Regardless of who is finally declared "winner", this was a deeply flawed election. And it is so sad cos INEC gave us all the assurances.

I completely agree with the top American Election Observers here

Let Tinubu and his gang be writing rubbish results

This INEC chairman has made Prof Maurice Iwu to be a saint by conducting the worst election in the history of Nigeria

I think the results being declared now should not be called the confirmed total results. Until the all these unasked questions are properly answered and cleared. There is enough time for whoever the winner is to assume the position of the incoming and familiarize themselves with all the necessities required to run, but in order to carry the nigerian public along and avert public anger, they current totals should be announced as pending or presumptive.