The Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development, a civil society organization, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the operational failures that occurred during the presidential and National Assembly elections to prevent similar issues in future elections. Ms. Oluwatumininu Adedeji, the Executive Director of BIGIF, emphasized the need for an investigation into the incidents of violence reported in various areas during these elections. This inquiry aims to ensure peaceful conduct in upcoming elections, including the governorship and state assemblies polls scheduled for next Saturday.
In a Post-Election Press Statement released on Thursday, Adedeji noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless and naira redesign policy contributed to a decrease in vote trading opportunities and a reduction in reported cases of violence during the presidential and National Assembly elections. She urged the government to conduct a thorough investigation into cases of electoral violence, particularly those targeting women, and to bring the perpetrators to justice. Furthermore, she advocated for the implementation of deterrence messaging to effectively discourage future acts of violence in elections and to support the recovery of survivors.
Adedeji pointed out that operational failures, such as the failure to transmit election results from polling units to the INEC IReV portal as mandated by the Electoral Act of 2022, have significantly eroded public trust and pose a substantial risk to the electoral process. She highlighted that these failures also created a threat of violence against electoral officials, especially in the absence of security personnel. Consequently, she advised INEC to restore public confidence by reforming the electoral process and addressing these operational shortcomings in future elections.
She expressed satisfaction with the increased efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant institutions to combat vote trading in accordance with the Electoral Act of 2022, following BIGIF’s recommendations after the Ekiti governorship election in 2022. Adedeji called on the EFCC to publicly disclose the progress made in prosecuting individuals arrested for vote buying in previous elections, particularly during the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections in 2022, as this transparency would serve as a deterrent.
Additionally, she highlighted the success of the Ekiti template, developed in partnership with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which utilizes the N-alert mobile application to respond to violence against women in politics. This initiative has now become a national model for combating electoral-related gender-based violence, gaining popularity as recommended in 2022. Adedeji urged the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to pass legislation that would further enhance women’s participation in politics. She stressed the importance of encouraging and supporting women by the government and political parties to increase their involvement in the political arena.
Finally, BIGIF emphasized the need for civil society organizations to strengthen their collaboration with security agencies to create an enabling environment for women to participate in the political process without discrimination or fear of intimidation.
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