Some Vice Chancellors of federal universities who served as State Collation Officers for both the presidential and governorship elections during the 2023 general elections have offered suggestion on the proper management of election results in future elections.
They include the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Folashade Ogun Sola, Ahmadi Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Kabiru Bala and University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Charles Igwe.
They spoke on the sideline of the ongoing review meetings of the 2023 general elections with stakeholders and participants by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Prof. Ogunsola advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to continue improving on the technology adopted for the conduct of elections.
Ogunsola, who was the State Collation Officer for Osun during the Presidential election said while improving on those technologies, INEC should also regularly inform Nigerians about such progress to instill confidence in the system.
According to her, while uploading of results was an added value, parties, INEC and every stakeholder should part for a more transparent process by having their own copies of the result.
She said while the uploading of results made it more difficult for anybody to manipulate it, it was also important for every party to have a copy of the results at all levels and stakeholder to diligently perform his or her responsibility so that collective confidence could be restored in the system.
She said “Once you’re in leadership or in any position, people are going to question your integrity whether they have real reason or not. It is often a matter of opinion.
“I do know that there was a lot of finger pointing without basis, just because it didn’t go somebody’s way so when you take these kinds of assignments, you recognise that that will happen.
“There will always be trust deficit even if you’re doing everything correctly some people are going to question it.”
Prof Ogunsola suggested that since election results are collated at the polling units and collation centres, political parties should ensure that their members were always present at every level and have copies of the results.
On his part, Prof Kabiru Bala of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zarria, Prof. Kabiru Bala, said that for Nigeria to have successful election outcomes there must be a change of attitude by Nigerians whether politicians or electorate.
Prof Bala who served as the State Returning Officer for Sokoto State said that politicians needed to change their `must-win` mentality while those elected should be patriotic to serve, and the electorate should vote for the best candidate in any election.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Charles Igwe who said that he had already forwarded his recommendations to INEC called for early commencement of preparation for elections, including the recruitment of ad hoc staff and field officers.