INEC moves to resolve administrative challenges in 2023 elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday in Lagos moved to resolve some of the administrative challenges encountered in the 2023 general elections.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this at the post-election review of the 2023 general elections with some administrative secretaries.

Yakubu said the meeting with the administrative secretaries was to identify some of the administrative issues that affected INEC’s performance in the last general elections.

The chairman noted that the review of the administrative secretaries was important because Nigerians judged the commission based on the performance of the administrative officers in their respective states.

He said some of the administrative secretaries discharged their responsibilities effectively and the commission appreciated their dedication and commitment.

However, Yakubu, said there were still many areas that required rededication, commitment, improvement and, where necessary, sanctions to erring INEC officials.

“This meeting is to identify the areas of strength with a view to consolidating where necessary.

“Also, the meeting with the administrative officials was to identify the weakness, in other to come up with actionable recommendations for improvement in future elections.

“Therefore, based on the feedback from the public, the commission has also identified these challenges and how to resolve them for future elections.

“Among them were late arrival of election materials to some polling units, inefficient service at polling units by trained officials, management of the BVAS technology and insecurity of facilities and personnel,” he said.

Yakubu explained that to achieve prompt collection of polls nationwide at the appointed hour, the administrative officers in their respective states must get their logistics right.

He said the commission wanted to know the obstacles to the full implementation of these arrangements.

“Does INEC have the required vehicles and buses for road and maritime transportation during election?” he said.

The chairman noted that Nigerians still complained that they hardly expected prompt service at polling units by well-trained officials whether they were regular staff of the commission or ad hoc staff.

Yakubu said with regard to the management of the new technologies, the commission wanted to know the challenges the administrative secretaries encountered during the elections.

The chairman noted that in terms of security of facilities and personnel, the commission would like to know their experience on the field and how INEC could improve in this respect.

He urged the administrative secretaries across the state to frankly speak on issues that were identified.

Yakubu said it was by so doing that the challenges encountered in the field at the last general elections could only be addressed.