The National Peace Committee, NPC, has revealed why the 2023 general elections in Nigeria recorded low voter turnout.
The Committee which has the former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), as Chairman, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, as convener stated this on Friday at the formal presentation of the NPC’s 2023 General Elections Report in Abuja.
Recall that the 2023 presidential election was won by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who defeated former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar of PDP and Peter Obi, of Labour Party.
IVNTV NEWS reports that out of the total 93.47 million registered voters, only 24.9 million persons voted in the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections.
This represents a 26.72 percent voter turnout, the lowest since the return to democracy in 1999. The figure represents 34.74 percent of voter turnout when compared to the 2019 general election. The 2023 elections turnout, therefore, recorded a decline of 8.03 per cent.
Presenting the report, the Head of Secretarial of the NPC, Rev. Atta Barkindo, said that one of the issues that affected the 2023 generals was of lack of compliance with policies. He also listed lack of compliance with the electoral guidelines and legal frameworks of the elections.
Barkindo added, “There is also the issues of trust deficit. And that is why we can see those interest in voter registration. But the voter turnout was a bit low.
“We also observe citizens limited political awareness across the country. And there are challenges with issues of technology. And then how poverty and dispossession eventually impacted on credible process of the elections.”
“This was why the Peace Committee provided certain recommendations that both INEC and other election management bodies should take very seriously going forward.
“One is the issue of whole society approach. So, all of us must be involved in the process to provide free, fair and credible elections. There should be certain responsibilities for the government in power. Particularly, changing social economic conditions to make people to be committed to the electoral process.
“And for the election management body (INEC), there are issues where they have to comply with certain guidelines that have been set in place.
“And the changing political party culture of our country, where political parties are called upon to just comply with their own constitutions, their own policies and their own guidelines.”
Speaking further on the trust deficit, the Committee noted that throughout the 2023 election cycle, the increase in voter registration did not translate into voter turn out on the election day. As both the government and the election management body promised to deliver a free, fair and credible elections.
“President Buhari made this assurance during his speech at the 2nd signing of the Peace Accord on 18th February 2023. The INEC Chairman assured many Nigerians of free, fair and credible elections. Security agencies were determined to comply with rules of engagement and keep citizens safe.
“But when it mattered, officials across different agencies failed to comply with laws. They jettisoned the policies and the guidelines already put in place.
“All these, as in previous elections, combined to influence the perception of citizens. Who questioned the neutrality, impartiality and the objectivity of election management bodies.
“Due to trust deficit, the turnout in the just-ended 2023 presidential elections was a paltry 29 percent. Down from 69 percent in 2003 and 53 percent in 2011.
“President Tinubu secured his victory with the support of less than nine million voters out of the total 93 million registered voters.
“This outcome highlights a significant trust deficit and voter apathy within the country. It is imperative to take measures to restore the trust. And to build confidence of citizens in the electoral process,” the report read.
source: Daily Trust
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