Internal Party Wrangling, Litigation Threatening 2023 Polls – REC

Stakeholders of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), converging on Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, have expressed worry ahead of the 2023 general election, noting that the success of the contest could be marred by internal feuds amongst political parties, which they noted, have given rise to series of litigations.

Besides, the electoral umpire warned politicians across all party divides against indulging in vote buying, stressing that the new electoral reforms make such malpractices illegal.

Addressing, a three-day sensitisation workshop for political party leaders on “The Electoral, Legal Framework and other Political Party Matters” yesterday, the resident electoral commissioner (REC), Dr Cyril Omorogbe, blamed the problems of litigations and other feuds on ignorance by political parties of key provisions in the new Electoral Act.

Omorogbe, noted that the new Electoral Act has changed the dynamics of elections, assuring that cases of over-voting and other electoral frauds would be effectively dealt with, as polls in the affected units would be cancelled.

“It is important to note that we now have the register of voters in electrical format. People do not still understand that the 2023 elections will be different, they believe things are going to be the way it was before.”

“The issue of over-voting cannot happen anymore, they are gone. What I tell people at this point is that the human element when it comes to elections is gradually disappearing.

“The old electoral act talks about the number of registered voters in that polling unit, now we do not consider that but only the number of accredited voters on the day of the election, so if you have 99 accredited people to vote, and at the end, you have 100, that result will be canceled.

“Some people are planning on how they can go and buy votes but I will warm you. If you are a strategist working with your party the issue of buying votes should be the last thing on your mind,” he added.

In his opening remarks, the chairman of the Election and Party Monitoring Commission (EPMC) Mr. Sam Olumekun, noted that the Commission, as a regulatory agency for political parties, is focused on ensuring compliance with relevant laws.

In his keynote address, the chief technical adviser (CTA) to INEC, Prof Bolade Eyinla, urged all political parties to adhere strictly to rules and regulations guiding the upcoming general election.