By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – AHEAD of 2027 general and some off-cycle elections, an election observer and non-profit organization, Yiaga Africa, Monday, tasked President Bola Tinubu to implement definitive electoral reforms that would restore confidence of Nigerians in the electoral process.

Yiaga Africa made the call in a 71-page report tagged ‘Electoral Trust Restored? Nigeria’s electoral process One Year after the 2023 General Election’, a comprehensive analysis of the state of the electoral process following the last general elections.

The report is a culmination of one year of rigorous research, documentation and analysis of key election trends. Yiaga Africa closely monitored unfolding events in electoral process, particularly the off-cycle elections of 2023 and the subsequent bye-elections and reruns in early 2024.

However, Yiaga Africa acknowledged incremental improvements in election management and logistics, meanwhile, according to Yiaga Africa, it was compelled to highlight trends that cast a long shadow of doubt on the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.

The report paints a picture of declining public trust, questionable political will for electoral reform, institutional challenges, unchecked electoral misconduct, intentional obstruction of electoral justice, declining voter turnout, and evolving jurisprudence on electoral matters.

These trends are a stark reminder of the fragility of Nigeria’s democracy and they underscore the urgent need for comprehensive democratic reform. The documented cases of election manipulation, violence and brigandage in states like Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo, as well as the widespread inconsistencies in the judicial pronouncements, raise grave concerns about the commitment to democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law.

The prevalence of attacks on INEC officials, pre-filled result sheets, political thuggery, violence and reports of inflated turnout figures call into question the credibility of electoral outcomes and undermine public confidence in democratic institutions. These trends reveal a challenge in our political culture and it constitutes an affront to the Nigerian electorate.

The Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo while speaking at the presentation of the report in Abuja, pointed out that one year after the general election, the Tinubu led administration is yet to declare its stance on the electoral process, an act which could affect the public trust even as the 2027 elections draw nearer.

Itodo said: “The President is yet to make known his stand on electoral reforms and this is after one year of the elections. We are waiting for the president to unveil his electoral reform agenda.

“But also, we call on the judiciary to undertake a self-reflection especially around conflicting judgement that was issued by the judiciary as they are very disturbing and they input on the public trust in the judiciary.

“These are some of the issues that we have highlighted as well as the need to prosecute electoral offenders because if we area constitutional democracy, we must adhere to the laws.”

He counseled that all issues about the electoral process experienced should be resolved before the 2027 general elections, and added that the 2023 election was a missed opportunity to build trust and confidence on the process.

Therefore, the Yiaga Africa boss called on citizens, especially youths not to loose faith in the electoral process, because there is still hope to fix the country.

“In spite of the dissatisfaction, we have no country other than this, and they have a role to play; this is a journey and we would get to that destination where a Nigerian’s vote will count”, he said.

Also speaking, Dr Yunusa Tanko, a one time chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, said there is need to protect the integrity of Nigerian elections.

Tanko also stressed the need for the full autonomy of local government councils, financing of political parties, improvement of electricity and communication systems, and the end to cross
carpeting in order to restore sanity in elections.

former INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, advised that more focus should be
placed on political parties rather than INEC.

“The people that perpetrate electoral offences are the elite in the political parties and not INEC.

“It is the candidates that bring in thugs to disrupt elections and subvert the electoral! laws. It is
‘critical to focus on INEC when the main people committing the crimes are not even

“Also, we must find a special way to protect our electoral workers and how to deal with the road transport workers that collect money from
people to sabotage the process”, Okoye said.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Sen Sharafadeen Ali, said that the 10th National Assembly was poised to conduct a critical assessment on INEC to constitute a significant part of the reform it was undertaking.

“We are committed to engage political parties and INEC, so as to achieve the conduct of free, fair and credible elections which is what our democracy at this stage truly deserves”, Ali said.

The 71-page report by Yiaga Africa tagged “Electoral Trust Restored? Nigeria’s Electoral Process One Year After the 2023 General Election”, contained other findings and recommendations.