The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has been commended by the accredited election observers under the aegis of the Voters Awareness Initiative, VAI, for conducting a credible presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25.
In a statement signed by the president of VAI, Mr. Wale Ogunade Esq and the Director, Media and Mobilisation, the observers congratulated and commended Nigerians for the peaceful and credible conduct of the election, adding that the outcome reflects the will of the people and is a victory for Democracy The group said, “We are proud and delighted with the peaceful, credible and successful conduct of the 2023 presidential and national assembly elections in which the outcome reflected the will of the people and is a victory for Democracy”.
According to the statement, VAI deployed over 100 accredited election observers, monitored reports of other observer organizations as well as the media for situation reports in the conduct of the elections in 176, 606 polling stations across the 36 states and the federal capital territory, Abuja and can confidently report that the electoral process was duly complied with by the electoral umpire at the polling stations and at the different stages of the collation of results in substantial compliance with provisions of the electoral Act, at variance with the campaign of lies, falsehood, misinformation, blackmail and calumny against the electoral umpire”.
It said that Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI) specifically commended INEC for it’s professionalism, objectivity and dogged commitment to the provisions of the electoral Act in the conduct of the elections even in the face of unwarranted and unprovoked attacks, lies, falsehood, misinformation, campaign of blackmail and calumny.
,”We are indeed proud and commend INEC for the professional and unbiased discharge of it’s responsibility in line with the provisions of the constitution and global best practices.
The group also commended the Nigerian electorate for coming out to vote on election day even in the face of excruciating economic and social pains and agony and for remaining calm, peaceful and committed to democracy in the face of provocations by anti democratic elements who plotted unsuccessfully to truncate the announcement and declaration of results with spurious and unsubstantiated claims, fake news, letter and incitements of various kinds.
“We also commend the security agencies for their professionalism and unbiased conduct which contributed in no small measure to the success and credibility of the election.
The group applauded local and international observers for their unbiased observations and report of the elections which had helped to deepen the democracy.
The media was not left out of commendations for it’s untiring and patriotic role in the objective and professional coverage and reportage of the election and the outcome in which due process was followed and reflects the will of the people as victory for Democracy.
The political party agents were commended for their civilized conducts which contributed to the peaceful and credible conduct of the 2023 general elections.
The Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI) congratulated the winner of the presidential election Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his hard won and national spread electoral victory which is a testament of the peoples confidence and trust in his capacity and capability to take Nigeria to greater heights.
