2023: It’d be hard to contain youths’ reaction if INEC fails, says ex-lawmaker

Nnena Ukeje, a former member of the house of representatives, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparency in the electoral process ahead of the 2023 elections. 

Ukeje spoke on Tuesday during ‘Citizens Election Dialogue’, a programme organised by Yiaga Africa, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Channels TV.

The ex-lawmaker, who represented Bende federal constituency between 2015 and 2019, said Nigerians do not have absolute trust in INEC due to doubts about the integrity of the commission.

“There is a trust deficit between the people who run the elections. If at this point, we are talking about the umpires and the integrity of the umpires, that means the outcome of the elections is going to leave a lot to be desired but let me make the point that these are threshold elections, these are very important elections, they are transitional elections but they are also consolidation elections which means these elections could either make or mar our democracy,” she said.

Ukeje said addressing such a deficit is important at a time when there is rising interest in the electoral process among Nigerians.

The ex-lawmaker warned that if INEC fails to deliver in 2023, it would be difficult to contain the reaction of those rankled by the election process.

“For the very first time, with everything that is going on in Nigeria, we’ve seen an upsurge of people show a keen interest in the electoral process of this country,” she added.

“We have seen over 10.3 million people come out to vote and they are between the ages of 18 to 35… 70 percent of those people, their hope is on the line and the reason they’re coming out is because they’re hoping that this is their one chance to make a difference from all the challenges that they see.

“Now, if anything goes awry, the effect of the disenchantment of these people who have put their hopes in the future of this country through the ballot, it’s going to be very difficult to contain.

“So, when we start to speak about the integrity of the umpires of this election and we start to see that there’s less transparency and engagement with the national assembly and the Nigerian people, then it means the outcome of the elections are going to leave a lot to be desired.”

Ukeje enjoined the government and Yakubu Mahmood, INEC chairman, to give Nigerians a free and fair election as promised.

“I think it’s of utmost importance that the APC government realise that the onus is on them to come out and give us the elections that they promised us,” she added.