The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has acknowledged the widespread distrust many Nigerians have toward the commission. Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Wilfred Ifogah, while speaking on NigeriaInfo FM, admits that this has indeed become a genuine concern. He, nonetheless, added that constructive criticism is welcome, as it helps highlight the commission's shortcomings.
Ifogah, however, went on to insist that such criticism should be grounded in facts and an understanding of legal constraints, warning that misinformation and fake news are troubling to the commission and can contribute to political apathy. He emphasised that while some criticisms are accepted, the commission’s actions are bound by law. When asked about the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, denying ownership of an X (formerly Twitter) account, Ifogah said a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary had already clarified that the chairman does not operate such an account. He added that with the rise of artificial intelligence, content can be fabricated, and cautioned against relying on hearsay or unverified information over the chairman’s official denial.
The deputy director also stated that INEC has continued to deploy result transmission devices in elections and is working to improve their performance. He acknowledged that during the 2023 general elections, there were challenges with real-time uploads due to technical and network issues. He said the commission has since reviewed these issues and conducted simulations to identify and address potential problems ahead of subsequent elections.
He explained that while INEC has about 15,000 permanent staff nationwide, the scale of elections requires significantly more personnel. With over 176,000 polling units, about four personnel are needed per unit, amounting to a much larger workforce, alongside additional supporting officials who supervise the process and are not permanent staff. He emphasised that although these individuals may have personal political leanings, they are expected to remain neutral, as their conduct at polling units plays a critical role in determining the credibility of election outcomes.
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