INEC chair says commission will review collation, returning officers recruitment

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has consulted collation and returning officers in a bid to review the recruitment, training, and posting of such officers in subsequent elections.

Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said the result management system would be reviewed, following some Nigerians’ complaints about the system deployed in the 2023 general elections.

This featured at the post-election review meeting with collation and returning officers in Abuja on Friday.

The chairman stated that the commission would assess its strengths and weaknesses so that the results management system could be improved.

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According to him: “Issues have arisen, and some Nigerians have raised concerns about result management at various levels. While some of the issues are subject to litigation and therefore subjudice, we can nevertheless discuss them broadly and, most importantly, share our experience on the way forward.

“It is, therefore, the commission’s expectation that at this meeting, we will identify areas of strength and weakness as well as the necessary reforms we need to introduce going forward.

“More specifically, and from your practical experience in the 2023 general elections, we would like to hear your perspectives on the processes and procedures for recruitment, training, and posting of collation and returning officers.”

He said the commission was also looking into the logistics for movement to and from their places of assignment, the integrity of the collation and declaration procedure, including the application of the law, regulations and guidelines for result management.

He canvassed for a review of the role of technology in result management, security of collation/returning officers and the collation centres, conduct of party agents and election observers during collation and the conduct of security personnel.”