2023 presidential election: Reviewing yourself Isn’t Ideal – CUPP tells INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to conduct an internal review of the results of the 2023 presidential election has been criticised by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

If INEC is serious about integrity, as they claim, they should hold a transparent, independent public probe into the problems that the commission claims compromised the 2023 presidential election.

On Wednesday, the United Political Parties released a statement to the media in Abuja, signed by High Chief Peter Ojonugwa Ameh, the National Secretary of CUPP, claiming that widespread distrust and scepticism about the election are to blame.

CUPP argued that the public trust necessary to explain what happened or find the criminals within INEC who prevented Nigerians from having a credible election process will not be revealed by the review.

According to the statement, “Mahmood is obviously and noticeably running up and down to try to repair the battered image of the commission and by extension his reputation as well.”

If the panel proceeds with its plan to conduct an internal investigation by reviewing the elections in a manner that is not open to the public, public trust in the commission will completely collapse.

The public will have little faith in the commission’s so-called self-review procedure if it continues with it.

“The commission can not review itself without the elements of bias, so if Yakubu Mahmood is interested in reviewing the 2023 general election, the proper course of action is to establish an independent commission of inquiry to investigate and examine the commission’s unverifiable claims that there was a glitch, with terms of reference including but not limited to the following; Educate the audience on the nature of the bug and what led to it. Who was in control when it happened, in order of rank.

“We need to know that this was not a deliberate attempt by members of the commission to undermine the integrity of our election by subverting the right of the people to vote and elect their leaders through a free, fair, and credible process.”