Nigerian delegation reports on 2023 polls at ECOWAS Parliament Extra Ordinary Session, By Taiye Agbaje

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The Nigerian Delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has given report on levels of electoral violence that occurred before, during and after the 2023 General Elections at the ongoing 2023 first ordinary session of the regional legislative body.

The delegation said though prior to the election day, the presidential candidates of different political parties signed a peace accord to ensure a free and peaceful election, this did not totally guaranteed security during the election period.

In the report presented by Lynda Ikpeazu, the delegation said on the issue of pre-election violence, as campaigns ended, violence broke out in some parts of the country with recorded violence in Kano state, with a Senate candidate being killed in Enugu State.

The delegation said security concerns were heightened prior to the elections as record showed scores of violence against civilians through banditry, kidnapping, and political violence associated with the presidential and gubernatorial elections.

“During the election campaigns, there was an increased targeting of political actors and INEC officials. In December 2022, a Labour Party candidate was murdered in Imo state, reportedly when unidentified gunmen invaded his residence.

“Whilst two members of the APC were killed on the 20th of January when armed men raided a community meeting in Ebonyi state.

“INEC and its infrastructure have been targeted across some states like Imo, Anambra and Ebonyi states. On 1 February, an unidentified armed group attacked the INEC office of Idemili South LGA, Anambra state destroying 729 ballot boxes, 243 voting cubicles, and 256 election bags.

“This disruption, along with the threat of IPOB issuing a call to boycott the election over the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu had a major impact on voter turnout in the zone.

“Election violence was recorded in various parts of the country in the 1st quarter of the year. The South East recorded 46 events while the South West 45 events, the South-South (38) and North Central areas (32).

“Nearly one in 10 events took place in the battleground state of Osun, where both the PDP and APC have traded allegations over inciting violence against their rivals. Half of the violence involving party supporters in the 12 months before the 2023 election involved direct, organised attacks against civilians, followed by mob violence and abductions.

“Despite the disruptive and violent activities prior to the elections, Hundreds of youths from across the country have vowed to remain peaceful and law-abiding after the 2023 general elections. This peace declaration was made by youths who attended the launch of the “Peace-for-Free” lecture series held in Kaduna in April,” the delegation told the parliament.

The delegation also said that the 2023 general elections experienced a very low turnout.

The delegation explained that out of the 93.47 million registered voters in the country, only 24.9 million persons voted in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

It further explained that the figures represented a meagre 26.72 per cent voter turnout, the lowest since the return to democracy in 1999

It informed that the election which was conducted on Feb. 25, 2023, had 18 candidates who vied for the seat of the president and about 4,223 candidates running for the 469 seats in the National Assembly.

The delegation added that on March 11, 2023, 28 out of the 36 states in the country held governorship elections.

The delegation, however, said that despite the challenges, Nigeria had successful elections with Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerging as the president-elect and Kassim Shettima as vice president-elect.