By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
This is even as the Commission insists that it does not believe in press censorship hence it opened its doors to public criticisms no matter how unpalatable they may sound while it has also made efforts to improve public accessibility to the Commission’s activities.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Barrister Festus Okoye stated this at the Handover ceremony of IT facilities to INEC ion support of the INEC Citizens Contact Center (ICCC) by Community Life Project (CLP) in collaboration with Ford Foundation, for the 2023 general election at International Conference Center Abuja on Thursday.
Okoye who represented the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu at the brief event commended CLP funded by Ford Foundation for donating the IT facilities which he said will help the Commission to deliver a free, fair and credible elections which Nigerians and international Community will be proud of the outcome.
The INEC top official also used the occasion to reiterate the stand of the Commission to conduct the 2023 general election in accordance with the Provisions of the 2023 Electoral Act.
Said he: The Commission must pay attention to the Provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act. We must ensure that Section 47 Sub-section 1 which says no individual should approach any voting unit without Permanent Voters Card (PVC) is strictly adhered to.
“Also, INEC will upload Form EC8A in fulfilment of the Electoral Act 2022 and the public will be able to view the election results realtime during the 2023 general election.
“No individual, media or Observer can announce the results of the elections except the INEC Chairman or those he delegated to do so in the case of States elections but for the Presidential election, only the INEC Chairman is qualified by law to announce the result”.
Speaking earlier, CLP Programme Manager, Francis Onahor said the ICCC IT facilities provided by his organisation offer citizens and the public the opportunity to get realtime responses to inquiries, incidents reports, and queries about any aspect of the electoral process.
Said he: “CLP considers an efficient and effective ICCC as a critical element in making citizens’ voices heard by the Commission. We have no doubt that these facilities will contribute significantly to boosting INEC’s capacity to resolve electoral incidents and offer citizens better opportunities to exercise their franchise.
“We commend the Commission for its commitment to using ICT to improve our electoral system and for facilitating citizens’s active participation in election day management “.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Emeka Okafor,
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Interra Networks Nigeria Limited, the service provider for the ICCC and incharge of installation and deployment of IT facilities to ICC Abuja, venue of the INEC General Collocation Center and Situation Room, said the IT facilities will enhance the operation of the ICCC in the Situation Control Room for the 2023 General Election.
Okafor also disclosed that his company is also helping INEC to provide shortcodes with which citizens can interface with the Commission without any problems.
Prompt News reports that INEC has since launched a Shortcode 4632 for more interactions between the Commission and the public.
The items supplied ate 15 all-in-one desktop computers, 2 laptop computers for the Supervisors and 15 UPS.