W’African leaders urge INEC to probe poll infractions, cautions against violent protests

Leaders of West Africa on election monitoring to Nigeria have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate allegations of infractions made by some political parties participating in the country’s 2023 poll against its officials and others.

The leaders including ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and former Ghanaian President John Mahama spoke on Tuesday under the West African Elders Forum (WAEF).

Recall that the Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had staged a walkout on INEC at the National Collation Centre in Abuja and called for the cancellation of the presidential election result collation on the account that INEC was collating results that were not electronically transmitted from the polling units across the country.

In a statement on Tuesday, jointly signed by Goodluck Jonathan and  Mahama, WAEF asked political parties and their supporters to remain calm and peaceful.

The group warned Nigerians to be cautious with protests over the allegations in order not to ruin the stability and peace of the country.

The statement read in part, “The mission notes that some political parties and concerned citizens have raised procedural questions and allegations of infractions of the electoral law in the process of collation of results.

“We call on all aggrieved parties to document and present their claims to INEC, in accordance with the Electoral Act 2022.

“The mission notes the imperative of retaining the confidence of Nigerians in the ongoing electoral process and, therefore, urges the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to thoroughly investigate those concerns and comply with the electoral law and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the process of collating the election results.

“We reiterate that Nigeria is a major stakeholder in the sustainability of democracy in West Africa and the responsibility of maintaining the nation’s thriving democracy and the general peace of our sub-region rest on all our shoulders, especially on the integrity of INEC and other election management bodies in West Africa, during elections.

“We therefore urge INEC to live up to its responsibility of delivering free, fair and credible elections, in accordance with the nation’s laws.

“WAEF urges political parties, candidates and their supporters to remain calm and peaceful while awaiting the final outcome of the electoral process.”