The Independent National Electoral Commission has debunked a media report claiming that 94% of all elective positions contested in the 2023 general elections are being contested at the tribunal.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, described the report as inaccurate and misleading.
Olumekun said that the attention of the commission had been drawn to a front page report by a newspaper in its Wednesday edition titled: “INEC’s credibility sinks as 94% contested posts await tribunal.”
Olumekun clarified that out of 1,491 constituencies across the country, elections were not conducted in 1,280 constituencies, including 782 state assembly seats.
“On the contrary, elections were conducted in 1,491 constituencies across the country made up of 1 Presidential, 28 Governorship, 109 Senatorial, 360 House of Representatives and 993 State Assembly constituencies.
“Similarly, the claim that State Assembly elections were held in only 28 States of the country is made on the lazy assumption that no such elections were held in the eight States of the federation where executive elections are held off-cycle.
As every attentive Nigerian knows, the tenure of legislators is tied to the legislative houses which is a fixed term of four years from the date the Assembly is inaugurated unlike the term of office of the executive which begins from the date they take the oath of office, “ he stated.
He also pointed out that the report mixed up pre-election and post-election cases, and that many of the election petitions filed were dismissed or withdrawn.
“Over the last three electoral cycles, the number of election petitions may be rising but not the number of upturned elections. In 2015, 663 cases were filed at the tribunals, 87 (13.1 per cent) were nullified and the commission ordered to conduct re-run in some polling units or entire constituencies.
“In 2019, 807 petitions were filed but elections were only re-run in 30 (3.71per cent) consituencies (three Senatorial Districts, 13 Federal Constituencies and 14 State Constituencies).
“While the 2023 post-election litigations are ongoing, all five petitions filed in respect of the Presidential election were dismissed while three are pending on appeal,” he said
“For senatorial elections, 146 petitions were filed out of which 100 (68.5per cent) were dismissed or withdrawn.
“For the House of Representatives, 413 petitions were filed out of which 309 (74.81 per cent) were dismissed or withdrawn while for State Houses of Assembly, 550 petitions were filed out of which 468 (82.4 per cent) were dismissed or withdrawn.”
Olumekun emphasized that it is inappropriate to solely assess the credibility of INEC or the conduct of the 2023 General Election on the number of petitions filed by litigants
