A partnership of ten civil society organizations has identified 22 states with a high risk of fraud and manipulation with around 28 days till the general elections.
The results also showed that while three states were classed as having minimal risk of election manipulation, 12 states had medium risk, according to the findings.
These concerns were raised by the CSOs during the presentation of the first iteration report of the Election Manipulation Risk Index.
Three EMRI iteration reports on the general election of 2023 would be produced, according to our correspondent.
The International Press Centre, Partners for Electoral Reform, Institute for Media and Society, Albino Foundation, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, The Kukah Centre, Enough is Enough Nigeria, Center for Journalism Innovation and Development, SBM Intelligence, Dataphyte, and Yiaga Africa were among the ten organizations.
Samson Itodo, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, Samson Ezenwa, Cynthia Mbamalu, Emmanuela Azu, Lanre Arogundade, Yemi Adamilekun, and Jack Epelle were in attendance at the occasion.
According to the research, attempts to skew election results via manipulation techniques are increasing as general election planning for 2023 advances. Key players are coming up with plans to disrupt election preparations and mitigate the effects of admirable measures meant to improve the fairness of the democratic process.
“Electoral threats that may potentially compromise the integrity of the 2023 elections include political influence with INEC operations, tampering with the voter registration, frivolous lawsuits, resistance to electoral technologies like BVAS and IReV, and administrative errors.
“In twenty-two of the federation’s states, there is a high possibility of election tampering. The existence of more than three EMRI variables qualifies the states as high-risk. Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Kaduna, Bauchi, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Jigawa are among the states mentioned.
“EMRI identifies twelve states with moderate election interference concerns. Bornu, Yobe, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Zamfara, Kebbi, Ogun, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, and Cross River are among the states. The classification of three states as low risk. Gombe, Ondo, and the Federal Capital Territory are some of them.
Additionally, the CSOs provided the Independent National Electoral Commission with some advice on how to reduce the risks.
The coalition recommended stringent vetting of applications for ad hoc personnel recruitment, while urging INEC to send dependable, uncorruptible, and knowledgeable administrative secretaries, heads of ICT, and operational officials to high-risk states.
According to the report, candidates should take competency tests before having their names made public for public review. A procedure for filing complaints against partisan and corrupt ad hoc officials should be established by INEC. In high- and medium-risk states, INEC should step up oversight and surveillance of its officials. This entails creating a reporting system that enables citizens to voice their grievances and concerns regarding INEC employees.
The EMRI advised that numerous registrants, bogus names, and underage registrants be removed from the voter list and that greater transparency be implemented in the handling of claims and objections made by citizens to INEC.
The findings also recommended zealous prosecution of INEC officials accountable for voter suppression and voter register tampering, as well as increased monitoring and oversight of INEC officials in charge of the PVC collection process to avoid tampering and purposeful denial of PVC issuance to specific individuals.
The CSOs recommended the following measures to prevent election fraud.
“Raise public knowledge of electoral fraud mitigating measures under the 2022 Electoral Act,” they read. In order to enforce adherence to the Electoral Act of 2022 and INEC Regulations and Guidelines, INEC shall make sure that its personnel has received the necessary training.
“The judiciary should dismiss any lawsuits brought to jeopardize general election preparations. The Nigerian Bar Association should take disciplinary action against attorneys involved in manipulating elections through the legal system.
