Obi tells INEC to learn from South Africa in conducting credible, transparent election

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to learn from fellow African country, South Africa, which just conducted an election appraised to be transparent and credible.

In a post on Saturday via his X handle, Obi said South Africa’s election was demonstrably competent and transparent, especially the seamless online dissemination of results.

He said unlike Nigeria’s 2023 election that was marred with glitches, opaqueness, late arrival of polling unit materials and other unimpressive conducts of electoral officials, South Africa showed the world that it is a democratic example to learn from.

The statement reads:

The outcome of the recent South African election results remains a shining example of what a transparent and efficient democratic electoral process should look like.

This demonstrated the robustness and transparency of their system. The seamless online dissemination of results further highlights their commitment to democratic principles and technological advancement.

This is in stark contrast to the show of shame that the giant of Africa, Nigeria, gave the World in 2023.

Nigeria’s 2023, with less than 30% of the Voter turnout and over 60% of the polling stations starting late, no diaspora voting, the elections were plagued by allegations of fraud and widespread irregularities, all forms of glitches, despite an enormous expenditure to the tune of about a billion dollars (direct allocation of =N=313 Billion and donor agencies supports)

The process has been widely discredited. The differences between the two countries’ electoral processes are both stark and lamentable. South Africa’s Election Results Center, with its state-of-the-art electronic board, showcased results with unparalleled precision and speed.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s electoral process is mired in controversy and lacks transparency. This glaring juxtaposition is a painful reminder of our country’s ongoing struggles with democratic governance.

It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive electoral reforms to ensure that our elections are free, fair, and credible. We must learn from South Africa’s example and strive to build a system that restores the people’s faith in our democracy.

The time for action is now, and we cannot afford to delay any longer in addressing these critical issues for a new Nigeria is POssible! -PO