The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CSJET) has scored the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its outing at the just concluded 2023 General Elections.
The group said the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu performed notably well in the conduct of the polls, insisting they were free and fair, despite attendant challenges.
Hinging its commendation on the technological innovations that were introduced notwithstanding setbacks, the group maintained that writing off the whole process as lacking in credibility would be preposterous, considering that the challenges were not out of place.
The centre made the observation during a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, convened by its Executive Secretary, Isaac Ikpa.
It hailed INEC for noticeable improvements in the electoral process and outcomes in the just concluded elections, noting that conducting elections is a herculean task.
“The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency wishes to use this medium to commend the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, for his display of courage in ensuring the credibility of the electoral process despite the attempts by some mischievous elements to cast aspersion on his reputation.
”Our position hinges on the fact that we gathered reports from observers across the country on the electoral process. The majority of the outcome was positive, indicating that the elections were free, fair, and credible.
“It is our conviction that those asking for the head of the INEC Chairman are the real enemies of Nigeria because their assumptions and allegations are a figment of their imaginations and not the reality on the ground. It is a deliberate attempt to heat the polity and cause chaos because the outcome of the elections didn’t favour their preferred candidates. They must come to terms with the fact that in politics, you win some and lose some.
“This much was admitted by some international observer missions that rated the 2023 general elections as credible and arguably one of Nigeria’s most keenly contested elections,” it said.
Warning disgruntled politicians against blackmailing the commission, CSJET said: “May we use this medium to advise those persons and groups after the head of the INEC Chairman to face their opponents instead of the INEC chairperson and commission’s staff.
“The 2023 general elections have come and gone. It would go down in history as one of the most keenly contested elections, as well as one of the freest, fair, and most credible elections in the country’s annals.
“The Centre for Social Justice is using this medium to commend the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, for the conduct of the 2023 General elections and with emphasis on the technological innovations that were introduced despite the efforts of saboteurs to discredit the electoral process.”
It urged those displeased with the electoral process and the outcome of the 2023 general elections to seek redress through lawful means.