The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) Election Analysis Centre (EAC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replicate the successes of the June 18 and July 16 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states in the coming 2023 general elections.
This is contained in its post-election statement signed the its Director, Idayat Hassan and the CDD-EAC Chairman, Prof. Adele Jinadu.
The organisation commended all election stakeholders for what it described as a positive performance and the successful conduct of the July 16 governorship election in Osun State.
In the report presented in Abuja on Sunday, CDD expressed satisfaction with the elections, saying despite apprehension about the possibility of violence, the process turned out to be peaceful.
The CDD said like the Ekiti State governorship election before it, the Osun poll witnessed impressive voter enthusiasm.
The Centre commended the political actors for ensuring that the post-election environment remained calm, peaceful and free of any agitations following the declaration of the results by the State Collation Officer appointed by INEC.
On the general atmosphere, which characterized the election, the pro-democracy group’s verdict was that the election saw significant improvement in INEC’s election logistics and poll opening time and the conduct of INEC officials.
“For example, critical materials were promptly distributed. INEC indicates that 827,218 voters were accredited out of 1,952,387 registered voters for the election, representing a 42.37 percent turnout,” the report read.
“This is an improvement over the 36.74 percent voter turnout recorded in the Ekiti 2022 governorship election, and is a marginal improvement over the voter turnout of 41.34 percent recorded in the 2018 Osun governorship election.”