By Etido Okon
PROMAD and Policy Shapers, two civic tech organizations have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the Bi-modal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) report across the country alongside the 2023 election results for the sake of transparency and credibility.
In a statement signed by the founders – Daisi Omukungbe and Ebenezar Wikina on Monday, February 27, 2023, noted that Saturday’s presidential election showed the promise of democracy becoming citizens-driven, participatory, and energetic as both young and old citizens turned out en mass to vote.
The duo said INEC has not lived up to its obligations and mandate to Nigerians as defined in the 2023 Electoral Guidelines and the 2022 Electoral Act (as amended) due to the late arrival and commencement of voting materials, lack of network in BVAS sent to some polling units, delay in releasing results, failure of IReV platform which INEC promised to use in uploading the result to ensure transparency.
While controversies continue to trail result turn out and other INEC impediments, reports from over 20,000 deployed observers say several States like Ekiti, Cross River, Imo, and Rivers State have had their Local Government Area collation centers relocated without adequate information to stakeholders.
They urged the electoral umpires to improve the transparency and integrity of the election results using guidelines provided in their statement.
The organizations enjoin sister organizations, security agents, the media, ad hoc officials, foreign and local observers as well as every Nigerian to uphold democracy and build a desired Nigeria.