EU Election Observers: How INEC’s lack of transparency contributed to voter apathy
As many Nigerians continue to express disappointment over the conduct of the gubernatorial/state assembly elections held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, the European Union election observers in Nigeria have attributed the low voter turnout to the actions of political parties and the lack of transparency displayed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
With widespread reports of voter suppression and intimidation, voter apathy was witnessed in Lagos, Anambra, Oyo, Abia, and other states across the country.
EU’s Chief election observer Barry Andrews, in a statement issued on March 20, 2023, said that voter apathy witnessed in Saturday’s election was, in part, a clear consequence of failures by political parties and unfortunately also by INEC.
A resident in Abia State, living in one of the villages in Isiala Ngwa North (who preferred not to be mentioned), told a Neusroom correspondent that supporters of the ruling party in the state said that those not voting for the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) should remain at home.
Also, in Lagos, two days before the governorship poll, the Chairman of Lagos Motor Parks Management Committee, Musiliu ‘MC Oluomo’ Akinsanya, was seen in a viral video making comments that many believe were an attempt to intimidate Igbo voters in the state from coming out to vote.
The EU election observers have been in Nigeria since January 11, 2023, to monitor pre- and post-election developments in Africa’s most populous nation.
“Throughout the mission, we saw that Nigerians have a great appetite for democracy and are keen to engage in various civic activities. However, in many parts of the country, their expectations were not met,” Barry Andrews said.
The EU observers also noted that despite the increased use of technology in the electoral process, INEC’s lack of transparency led to widespread distrust in the electoral process, which contributed to the low turnout.
Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which many believed will lend credibility to Nigeria’s electoral system, was introduced. Also, the electoral body promised electronic transmission of results from the polling to the IRev Portal, a promise that was not fulfilled in the February 25 presidential election, which may have contributed to the low turnout witnessed in the gubernatorial election.
“Polling on election day was disrupted by multiple incidents of thuggery and intimidation of voters, polling officials, observers, and journalists. Lagos and Kano, and other states in southern and central parts were most affected,” the statement read.
