Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has vowed to improve on the conduct of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja during a solidarity march to the headquarters of the commission by African Centre for Justice and Human Rights.
Haruna said the commission’s performance in elections had continued to improve, expressing confidence that subsequent elections would build on the Osun experience.
The national commissioner stated that the conduct of the election was consistent with the commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections.
He told the group, “We thank you very much that you are happy with what had happened in Osun State. But it is consistent with what INEC has always stood for, which is that we are committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections.
“As you agree with me, all the by-elections we have had, each one has always been better than the one before.
“So, consistent with that, God willing, the next general election—there are a few by-elections we will still have—there will be an improvement on Osun, and ultimately, the general election itself next year will be an improvement.”
Haruna thanked the coalition and Nigerians for their continued participation in the electoral process, assuring that the commission would remain committed to improving the quality of elections in the country.
Earlier, Coordinator of the group, Obed Agu, said the Osun State governorship election had renewed the confidence of many Nigerians in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.
The group maintained that if the standard demonstrated in Osun was sustained and improved upon, INEC could deliver a 2027 election that would strengthen the country’s democracy.
Agu said the group was a representative of political parties, ethnic youth organisations, community leaders, religious leaders, women leaders, civil society, and other democratic stakeholders, who participated in the National Post-Election Discourse convened by African Centre for Justice and Human Rights.
The coordinator emphasised that the Osun election had given Nigeria a new democratic benchmark, saying Osun must not be an exception, rather it must be the standard.
Agu stated, “For two days, we reviewed the Osun election. We examined the pre-election preparation. We examined election-day conduct. We examined security. We examined results management. We examined stakeholder engagement.
“Today, therefore, we present our solidarity to INEC and express our confidence in Professor Amupitan’s ability to lead the commission towards an even more credible, transparent and inclusive 2027 General Election.
“We examined the preparations already underway towards 2027. And we reached a clear conclusion. The Osun election has given Nigeria a new democratic benchmark. Osun must not be an exception. Osun must be the standard. We have come today to say:
“We have confidence in the electoral institution. And we have confidence that, if the standard demonstrated in Osun is sustained and improved upon, Nigeria can deliver a 2027 election that will strengthen our democracy.”