Ondo PDP Candidate Urges INEC to Audit 2023 Elections Before 2027 Polls

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency in Ondo State, Babatunde Faro, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a comprehensive audit of the 2023 general elections and address identified shortcomings before the 2027 polls.

Faro made the call while speaking with journalists in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday, expressing concern over reported technical problems with the commission’s electronic results viewing portal, IReV, and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the previous general election.

He said the commission needed to identify and correct the problems encountered during the 2023 presidential election to improve electoral credibility and ensure that voters’ choices were respected.

Faro noted that although achieving a completely flawless election might be difficult, significant improvements in the electoral process were necessary to strengthen public confidence in the commission.

He expressed hope that INEC had already assessed the previous election and taken steps to prevent a recurrence of the technical difficulties reported during the exercise.

The PDP candidate also urged the commission to comply with relevant provisions of the Electoral Act concerning the publication of the electronic register of voters.

He said addressing outstanding electoral concerns before the next general election would help improve transparency and strengthen confidence in the voting process.

Speaking on his legislative ambitions, Faro pledged to provide open, transparent and accountable representation if elected to the House of Representatives.

He identified youth and women empowerment as priorities, promising to create opportunities for constituents to communicate their concerns and participate more actively in decisions affecting the constituency.

He also pledged to pursue federal government projects and infrastructure development for Akure North and Akure South, saying he would work to ensure that residents benefited from national development initiatives.

Faro’s call comes as political parties and INEC intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with electoral technology, voter registration and transparency remaining important issues in discussions about the conduct of the polls.

The proposed audit, he argued, would provide an opportunity to identify weaknesses in the previous election and implement corrective measures before Nigerians return to the polls.