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A U.S. election observation group, comprising the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI), today, released its final report on the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.  

The report highlighted the incremental improvements in election administration, advances in results transparency, increased competitiveness in the presidential race, quality engagement of youth, and overall optimism generated by the enactment of the Electoral Act 2022.

However, the group noted that the 2023 elections fell short of citizens’ legitimate and reasonable expectations.

“Significant logistical, technological, and communications failures by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), divisive rhetoric by political parties, political violence, regional disparities in electoral integrity, instances of vote manipulation, and marginalisation of key populations marred the electoral process and disenfranchised voters negatively impacted on key aspects of the election process,” the group said. “The elections also saw the lowest turnout for national contests in Nigeria’s modern democratic history with only 27 percent of registered voters participating.”

The IRI/NDI final report states that: “The incoming government, lawmakers, INEC, and political parties will need to show genuine and renewed dedication to improving electoral and democratic processes, fighting corruption, and providing Nigerian citizens with responsive and trusted institutions. Nigerians must undertake collective actions to combat disenchantment, address lingering political grievances, and restore faith in elections and democracy as a whole.”

The report includes key findings on the pre-election, election day, and post-election periods and offers practical recommendations for consideration by Nigerian stakeholders and partners to promote a resilient and inclusive democracy.

The Joint International Election Observation Mission found that there is still space to confront electoral integrity challenges and build on the gains of recent reforms, but only through demonstrable political will, good faith, and committed and coordinated efforts among Nigerian stakeholders.

Although President Bola Tinubu was sworn-in on 29 May 2023, his victory in the 25 February 2023 presidential election is being challenged at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) sitting in Abuja by his rivals, notably the former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. The legal challenge could end up at the supreme court for final adjudication.
 
The report is based on information gathered by the joint NDI/IRI Nigeria international election observation mission, which was present in Nigeria from June 2022 to May 2023. The 40-person election day delegation observed the polls in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FTC). It was led by a team including Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi, and Ambassador Mark Green, former Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).