The Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ) reveals widespread violations of election laws during Nigeria's 2023 general election, exposing a concerning trend of abuse by various actors including INEC, the military, political parties, and politicians.
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Taken together, these incidents highlight the serious challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral system since 1999, when Africa’s most populous country returned to civil rule.Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you.MEN IN MILITARY UNIFORMS OPEN FIRE ON INEC STAFF ON ELECTION DAY
The Independent National Electoral Commission frequently relies on NYSC members during election periods to meet the demand for manpower, recruiting them to help manage and oversee the electoral process. This partnership plays a key role in ensuring the smooth conduct of elections nationwide.
The violence continued during the 2023 elections, with five new attacks on election officials reported from December 2022 to March 2023, a CCIJ analysis of media reports found. When contacted, Nigerian Army spokesman Major General Onyeama Nwachukwu refused to identify the soldiers stationed at the company and did not confirm that soldiers were involved in the shooting. However, a physical visit to the location by the CCIJ verified the presence of a military post at the oil company’s premises in Umutu.
Unknown to Mr Abaji and his colleagues, the youths had gone ahead to a nearby military checkpoint and falsely informed the soldiers that the INEC officials were a dangerous group trying to escape with ballot papers. But Mr Abaji and the other victims maintained that they did not work in the community where the attack occurred — and that it didn’t make sense to upload the results there. They had travelled to Umutu to board the 18-seater van that would take them to their head office, suggesting a case of the wrong identity.
With the injury, he can no longer play football or market his books, “No Shortcut to Success” and “Woman of Faith.” The Good Samaritan who is not named in this report for safety reasons said she was motivated to help him only because he was wearing a youth corps member uniform and she did not think he could have been involved in illegal activities.Another INEC official, Christian, now struggles with his eyesight after a bullet grazed his face and caused swelling to his left eye.
However, eight months later, one of the victims, Mr Abaji, has yet to receive any support. After undergoing multiple surgeries to avoid the amputation of his leg, he had to pause further medical care due to financial constraints, claiming that INEC abandoned him despite promises of compensation. This outreach came one year and three months after the shooting. However, Ossai Christian disclosed that despite sending the requested documents on several occasions, there have been no interventions by the government for his brother, Iroy Christian.
CCIJ followed up with phone calls in January 2024, nearly a year after the incident occurred, but he did not respond. “The persons who carried out the attack may not be army personnel, I will however get back after an investigation,” he said. Given the sensitive nature of electoral materials, which qualify as security documents, the procurement would typically follow a restricted bidding process to safeguard transparency and fairness.Awarding an election-related contract to a company owned by a gubernatorial candidate in that very same election presents a clear conflict ofAddressing the issue of a conflict of interest, INEC claimed that Ms Binani was not listed as a director in the Corporate Affairs Commission portal.
INEC’s electoral guidelines for the 2023 elections also prescribed confidentiality of the voting exercise. Prior to the election, the Commission also warned voters against displaying their ballot papers. The law clarifies the expenses as those payments made within the period the INEC gave notice for the conduct of the election and the day the election is held.
The Labour Party at various points had independently disclosed how it spent its money. For instance, a press statement signed by the party’s chief spokesperson, Yunusa Tanko, addressed these issues, yet INEC has not officially released these documents as mandated by law. Subsequently, INEC is required by the law to publish the audited report in two national newspapers and its websites within 30 days of receipt of the results.
But as soon as they unpacked their camera and drones to capture the area view, a group of thugs known as the “Area Boys” in Lagos confronted them, asking why the journalists were there to record them. In Nigeria, a court case could last for years and require several million in litigation costs. Due to these obstacles, offenders are often able to violate human rights — including those of journalists — without consequence.
News Nigeria Elections Law Breaches CCIJ Electoral Integrity
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