2023 Polls: INEC Moves To Review Operations
BY EDMOND ODOK – With its performance and activities currently on trial at the various elections Tribunal nationwide, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed dates to review the operations of the 2023 general elections.
The Commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, who stated this in Abuja on Thursday, said the Electoral umpire has resolved to conduct a thorough post-election review of the 2023 general election in line with its traditional practice over the years.
Okoye, who disclosed this at the end of its regular meeting on Thursday 22nd June 2023 in Abuja said; “The Commission has been holding these review meetings after every General Election since 2011. The review will involve the commission’s officials at National and state levels as well as stakeholders with a view to learning lessons and charting the way forward.”
According to him; “The review will commence with a meeting of the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on 4th July 2023 and end with the commission’s retreat on 5th August 2023. At the state level, the internal review will involve the commission’s regular and ad hoc staff, including RECs, the 774 Electoral Officers, Heads of Departments, Administrative Secretaries as well as some Presiding Officers and Collation/Returning Officers.”
The National Commissioner also explained that the external engagement will involve critical stakeholders such as political parties, security agencies, election observers, the media, and service providers such as transporters that facilitated the movement of personnel and materials for the election.
Further explaining that the review will encompass all aspects of the electoral process, including activities that took place before, during, and after the elections, Okoye stressed INEC’s commitment to soliciting actionable recommendations from stakeholders. adding that the review initiative is consistent with its longstanding practice of holding post-election reviews since 2011.
He said INEC aims to strengthen its institutional capacity and improve processes and procedures based on the valuable insights gained from this comprehensive review, disclosing that the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) will convene on July 4, 2023, marking the commencement of the review.
The National Commissioner, while hinting that the review process, expected to commence with a meeting of the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on 4th July 2023, will culminate in the Commission’s retreat on August 5, 2023, said; “Detailed schedule of activities and timelines will be released immediately after the meeting with RECs on 4th July 2023”.
