By Joy Odor
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu on Friday met with the 37 State Collation Officers for the 2023 Presidential Election (SCOPEs) on issues raised by some Nigerians concerning the result management at various levels across the country.
According to the Chairman, while some of the issues are subject of litigations and therefore sub judice, they would not be discussed broadly, however it is important for us to share experience on the way forward.
Prof Yakubu made this known in Abuja during his welcome address at the 2023 Post-Election Review Meeting with Collation and Returning Officers.
He informed that the Commission’s expectation at the meeting would identify areas of strength and weaknesses as well as the necessary reforms needed to introduce going forward.
“Present here today are the 37 State Collation Officers for the Presidential Election (SCOPEs). Many of you also doubled as Returning Officers for the 28 Governorship elections. For legislative elections, we invited, across the six geo-political zones of the country, the Senatorial District Collation Officers who also doubled as Returning Officers for senatorial elections.
“It is practically unmanageable to invite all the collation and returning officers for 1,462 federal and state constituencies made up of 109 Senatorial Districts as well as 360 Federal and 993 State Houses Assembly constituencies. We therefore focused on the Senatorial Districts since they are bigger and cut across the other constituencies.
“The Commission is aware that as collation and returning officers, you worked under extremely challenging circumstances by tediously and manually completing designated forms as provided by law and either moved them to the next level of collation or concluded the processes as Returning Officers. The Commission appreciates your commitment, dedication to duty and sacrifice to the cause of our democracy.
“At the same time, issues have arisen and some Nigerians have raised concerns about result management at various levels. While some of the issues are subject of litigations and therefore sub judice, we can nevertheless discuss them broadly and most importantly share experience on the way forward. It is therefore the Commission’s expectation that at this meeting, we will identify areas of strength and weaknesses as well as the necessary reforms that we need to introduce going forward.
“More specifically, and from your practical experience in the 2023 General Election, we would like to hear your perspectives on the processes and procedures for:
i. Recruitment, training and posting of Collation and Returning Officers;
ii. Logistics for movement to and from your places of assignment;
iii. The integrity of the collation and declaration procedure, including the application of the law, regulations and guidelines for result management;
iv. The role of technology in result management;
v. Security of Collation/Returning Officers and the collation centres;
vi. Conduct of party agents and election observers during collation;
vii. Conduct of security personnel; and
viii. Any other lessons that will improve the future collation and declaration of results.
“Consistent with the Commission’s commitment, when the review engagements are exhausted, a comprehensive report will be prepared. It is therefore expected that you will share your field experiences candidly. We would like to hear from you and what can be done to improve this critical aspect of the electoral process” he said.
Also in her remark, the Chairman, Planning, Monitoring and Strategic Committee, Professor Rhoda Gumus informed that the meeting is to undertake a comprehensive review on issues, challenges and to learn critical lessons in planning for future Elections.
“As part of field personnel on election day, you deal directly with both INEC staff and political gladiators; mostly in a violence atmosphere. There is no doubt that you have acquired wealth of experience in discharging your duties, during collation and declaration of results, which come with issues, challenges and lessons learnt.
” Today, we are here to attend to the question of “how far and how well” we performed in our respective duties during the election. As field workers, we expect to hear from you the challenges encountered and how you resolved them in the field bearing in mind that your key recommendations on this review exercise will definitely enhance the Commission in planning for future elections.
“It is the Commission’s policy to organize post-election reviews after successful conduct and conclusion of any election and the 2023 General election cannot be an exception. The State Collation Officers for Presidential Elections (SCOPEs) and Senatorial District Collation officers (SDROs) are key players in conducting elections in Nigeria.
