By Abimbola Ogunnaike

The Heads of International Observers Election Groups have applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the Presidential/National Assembly polls on Saturday, 25 February, 2023.

More than 80 million citizens voted in what is arguably one of Nigeria’s most anticipated general elections.

International Observers Election Groups include the African Union led by former president Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and the commonwealth team led by former president Thabo Mbeki of South Africa.

Two days after the elections were held, the observers submitted their preliminary report to the electoral umpire.

Despite the commendation, they decried a situation whereby violence broke out in some states of the country.

They foreign observers pointed out lapses in the late arrival of voting materials, violence in some parts of the country, and reported cases of ballot snatching in some states.

Similarly, observers from the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) expressed concerns over the violence that erupted in some parts of the country.

Leader of the NDI/IRI election observer group, Dr Joyce Banda, who was speaking at a news conference in Abuja noted that while the signing of the Peace Accord offered the presidential aspirants the opportunity to caution their supporters, it failed to achieve the aim.

The group stated that the election fell short of its expectation owing to a lack of adequate logistics and political violence amongst others.