By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
As part of its ongoing review process of the 2023 General Election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has met with Collation and Returning Officers to discuss issues of concern about the election, including those raised by some Nigerians with regards to result management.
Explaining the purpose of the meeting with the 37 State Collation Officers for Presidential Elections (SCOPE), and Returning Officers for the Senatorial District elections in Abuja, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said the Commission’s expectation was that the meeting would help identify areas of strength and weaknesses as well as necessary reforms.
He commended the Returning and Collation Officers for their doggedness in the face of daunting challenges in the course of discharging their duties.
The INEC boss identified major areas of the 2023 General Election where the Commission sought the contribution of participants on to include; recruitment, training and posting of Collation and Returning Officers; Logistics for movement to and from their places of assignment; among other critical areas
The Chairman, Planning, Monitoring and Strategic Committee, (PMSC) and National Commissioner, Professor Rhoda Gumus, had in her welcome speech described the State Collation Officers for Presidential Elections (SCOPEs) and Senatorial District Collation Officers (SDROs) as key players in conducting elections in Nigeria.
She urged the participants to as part of field personnel on election day, who dealt directly with both INEC staff and political gladiators mostly in an atmosphere of violence to contribute freely and meaningfully towards improving future elections.
