Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has described increasing incidents of pre-filled result sheets during elections in the country as a major dent on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) credibility.

Situation Room, in a statement on the re-run and bye-elections held on Saturday, signed by its convener Y.Z. Ya’u, said the development was an impediment to achieving free and fair elections in Nigeria.

It stated: “Situation Room observed that issues of pre-filling and hiding of original polling unit result sheets to tamper with the will of the people reoccurred in last Saturday’s elections.

“This was particularly witnessed in Enugu-South and Jos North/Bassa constituencies and appears to be a natural progression from occurrences during the 2023 off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi and Imo states, for which INEC is yet to furnish the public with details of findings from its investigation.

“The Situation Room finds INEC’s silence in the face of this level of democratic sabotage very disturbing. Situation Room notes that while INEC may have managed the elections in many constituencies efficiently, the increasing incidents of pre-filled result sheets is a major dent in INEC’s credibility and an evident roadblock to achieving free and fair elections.”

Situation Room called on INEC to immediately make public the report of its investigation of the incidents of pre-filled polling unit level result sheets during the off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi and Imo states, and propose effective measures, including prosecution in court, to prevent future occurrence.

According to the group, the absence of vigorous enforcement of election rules incentivises all forms of impunity, including vote trading, insisting that a mechanism must be put in place, urgently, to strengthen the framework for electoral accountability.

Situation Room further called on the National Assembly to commence conversations on electoral reform to address observed lapses, including appointment into INEC and Electoral Offences Commission bill. (The Guardian)

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