A Developmental expert, Mr Jide Ojo has called on the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, to assist the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in gaining public confidence in the Nigerian electoral terrain.
Ojo made this call during a one-day round table organised by International Press Centre, IPC, in Abuja.
During the round table meeting titled, “Re-examining the role of critical stakeholders in Rebuilding Trust in Electoral Process and Institution”.
According to him, the CSO and the INEC has to have a kind of symbiotic relationship between INEC, CSOs and the media.
He suggested that the electoral umpire has an assignment of house cleaning before it proceeds with the February, 3rd rerun and by-election that is coming up as well as subsequent elections.
In his statement, “There is no gainsaying that the Media and the Civil Society Organisation need to assist INEC to bolster people trust and confidence in the electoral management body”.
He also called on the INEC as a matter of urgency to do a quick fix to get the trust and confidence of the citizenry, especially the electorates.
During the event, the Executive Director, IPC, Mr Lanre Ogodundade revealed that event along with other previous initiative were being implemented by the IPC within the component of , support to media, of the European union support to Democratic governance in Nigeria-phase ii, EUSDGN ii, project.
Ogundade revealed the project that was commenced in 2022 was to strengthen the role of media in promoting democratic governance through fair, accurate, ethical and inclusive coverage of electoral process in Nigeria.
He explained that the essence of the roundtable discussion was to review the challenges that were encountered in the 2023 general election although the introduction of the technology into the system came with its own challenge especially the use of BVAs.
Those challenges triggered a lot of observations which partly reflected wining the public confidence and trust in the system.
He noted the report from the European Union Observer Mission report on the election made about 23 recommendations for improvement.
He said, “IPC media monitoring activity of 20 print/online media and INEC social media over the past one year has also revealed some elements of negative perceptions by some citizens about the electoral process and outcomes”.
“while there are those who holds that things were not as bad as they were painted.
However, “the observation saw that election stakeholders still have much work to do individually and collectively to rebuild trust.
“Therefore, as we approach a two off-cycle governorship election in Edo and Ondo state in this year 2024, and in view of the next general election of the 2027 as the activity is deem necessary.
He said, “This is to aid the process of developing strategic intervention that can contribute towards regaining public trust, while promoting the delivery of free, fair, peaceful and credible election in the country.
