“We Will Conduct The Freest And Fairest Election In Africa” – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has promised to conduct the “freest and fairest” election in all of Africa next year.

Mr Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, made this statement while educating Nigerians about the next general elections at the 2022 Calabar Carnival on December 29,

Okoye encouraged members of the Commission “to show Nigerians that they have the capacity to do so.”

According to him, the Commission chose to take part in the carnival in order to raise awareness of and inspire Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) and participate in the elections.

Okoye said: “My message to Nigerians is that only the PVC can change their circumstances. Therefore, those who do not have their PVCs have no business in the electoral process.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that the PVCs are available for the people and to organise free, fair and credible elections.

“It is also to ensure that those Nigerians say should win the 2023 election win. The time has come for us to organise the freest and fairest election on the continent of Africa.”

Okoye continued by saying that the Commission had no favourite political party and had no allegiance other than to the Nigerian people.

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has also pledged to leave a legacy of free and fair elections as he completes his 8-year tenure.

Buhari made the commitment in his Wednesday speech at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.

He said: “Indeed, we now are preparing for general elections in Nigeria next February. At the 78th UNGA, there will be a new face at this podium speaking for Nigeria.

“Ours is a vast country strengthened by its diversity and its common values of hard work, enduring faith and a sense of community. We have invested heavily to strengthen our framework for free and fair elections. I thank our partners for all the support that they have provided for our elections.

“As President, I have set the goal that one of the enduring legacies I will like to leave is to entrench a process of free, fair and transparent credible elections through which Nigerians elect their choice.”