
Ezenwa Nwagwu, Chairman of Partners for Electoral Reform says there is the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to look at its strength and weaknesses in the 2023 general election and improve on them ahead of the forthcoming elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States.
Mr Nwagwu who was reacting to the recently release European Union (EU) report on the 2023 general election in Nigeria also emphasised the need to enhance the country’s electoral processes.
European Union Election Observation Mission had on Monday presented its final report on the 2023 election in Nigeria.
Part of the recommendation of the report was further legal and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability.
Mr Nwagwu who said it was normal for foreign observers to review elections in Nigeria and other African countries, noted that it behooves on CSOs, Political Parties and other critical stakeholders in the country to also assist INEC in the review of the electoral processes and finding lasting solutions to perceived weaknesses.
According to him, there was improvement in the areas of technology, but INEC still needs to do more to build public trust in the country’s electoral processes.
Nwagwu however believed that the EU report may not be holistic as their observers may not have been to all areas where elections took place in Nigeria.
He added that with the feedbacks from the 2023 general election, INEC should commence work ahead of 2027 to enable it to perform better and deliver a credible election Nigerians will be proud of.