In the aftermath of the Edo State gubernatorial election, a significant portion of Nigerians has rated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s handling of the electoral process as below average, citing logistical challenges, delays, and concerns over transparency.
From early reports, voters and civil society groups have expressed dissatisfaction with various aspects of INEC’s conduct, claiming that despite some progress, the election was marred by organizational lapses and allegations of electoral misconduct.
Prince Kadiri, the running mate of Labour Party (LP) candidate Olumide Akpata, alleged that the APC resorted to vote buying as part of its desperate measures to sway the election in its candidate’s favour.
“It is sad that the APC is engaging in vote buying in my unit, and the reports available to me across Auchi and the Edo North district show that the APC is buying votes for N10,000.”
One of the major issues highlighted by voters was the delay in the arrival of electoral materials at several polling units across the state. In many instances, election officials arrived late, causing significant frustration among voters who had turned out early to cast their votes. Some polling units in rural areas reported that voting materials did not arrive until hours after the scheduled start time, leading to long wait times and eventual voter apathy.
A voter in Uromi, Edo Central Senatorial District, shared his disappointment: “I came out as early as 7:30 AM to vote, but INEC officials didn’t arrive until noon. By that time, many people had left, frustrated by the long wait. It’s disheartening to see such disorganization in an important election.”
These logistical issues, coupled with the late opening of polling units, raised concerns about voter disenfranchisement, especially in areas where turnout was already low due to security concerns.
While INEC has made strides in introducing technology into the electoral process, including the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, technical failures during the election led to widespread frustration. Many polling units reported that the BVAS devices malfunctioned, causing delays in the accreditation process and further contributing to the prolonged voting period.
Additionally, many voters and election observers expressed concerns over the transparency of the collation process. Although INEC had promised real-time results uploads to the IReV portal, some results were reportedly delayed in reaching the portal, raising suspicion of tampering or manipulation. In several areas, political parties raised objections over discrepancies between the figures recorded at polling units and those uploaded on the portal.
Civil society groups, including the Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth (YIAGA), criticized INEC for failing to communicate effectively with the public during the voting and collation stages.
Despite heavy deployment of security forces, reports of violence, intimidation, and vote-buying surfaced during the election, particularly in areas like Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha. The presence of political thugs in several polling units created an atmosphere of fear, leading some voters to abandon their polling stations without casting their votes.
Several political parties, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), accused security forces of turning a blind eye to these activities, further compounding the frustration of voters. In some instances, there were reports of electoral officers being threatened or coerced by party agents.
INEC had pledged to conduct a free, fair, and credible election, but many Nigerians believe the conduct of the Edo gubernatorial poll fell short of this promise. A civil rights activist, Emeka Okoye, noted, “Despite the deployment of advanced technology, INEC’s inability to maintain transparency and ensure voter security has raised serious doubts about the integrity of this election.”
In response to the widespread dissatisfaction, several advocacy groups have called for comprehensive reforms within INEC to address the recurring issues in Nigeria’s electoral system. Key recommendations include improved training for election officials, more robust technology solutions, and the need for better coordination between INEC and security agencies to protect voters and election personnel.
INEC, for its part, has acknowledged some of the shortcomings in its handling of the election and promised to conduct a thorough review of the process. The Commission has stated that it remains committed to upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system and will take steps to address the issues raised by voters and observers.
Despite INEC’s assurance, many Nigerians remain skeptical about the Commission’s ability to organize future elections more efficiently. With several elections on the horizon, including national elections in 2027, the Commission will be under immense pressure to restore public confidence in its operations.
