Elections in 2023: An international group identifies four priorities for successful polls

The International Crisis Group (ICG) has urged Nigeria’s government, political parties, electoral and security agencies to focus their efforts on four key issues in order to hold peaceful and credible elections in 2023.

On Friday, a backgrounder for the elections titled “Countdown Begins on Nigeria’s Crucial 2023 Elections” was released.

According to the Brussels-based conflict prevention and peacebuilding organization, one of the issues is improving security in the North-West and South-East zones, particularly around the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

ICG demands an end to the toxic clashes between the major parties, which are fueling tensions that could erupt into wider violence during and after the elections.

The third priority is for INEC to tighten up arrangements, particularly by ensuring a clean voter register and real-time electronic transmission of results across the country.

Furthermore, ICG urges anti-corruption agencies to increase their surveillance of politicians and banks in order to prevent vote buying.

The statement emphasized several challenges that are unprecedented in their scope across the country.

“These include the decade-long jihadist insurgency in parts of the North-East, diverse armed groups in the North-West and North-Central zones, and violence by armed groups associated with, or impersonating, Biafra separatist agitators in the South-East.

“These groups’ activities, particularly their attacks on INEC offices but also on highway travels, are impeding election preparations in many areas and may reduce voter turnout or invalidate ballots entirely in some constituencies.”

ICG condemns the proliferation of misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and bullying on social media, as well as the activities of hired thugs and vigilantes intimidating opposition candidates in some states.

The body expressed concern about the national security adviser’s disclosure, made by retired Major General Babagana Monguno, that police recorded 52 incidents of election-related violence in 22 states between September 28 and November 11, 2022.

“The elections may witness vote buying on an unprecedented scale. With INEC’s new safeguards against vote rigging, some politicians and parties are now devising new schemes to buy votes and even voters’ cards from poor and vulnerable citizens.”

Noting that the 2023 elections will mark 24 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria, ICG urged citizens to exercise their rights and advised all stakeholders to follow the rules.