Edo Guber: Centre to conduct post-election audit

The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership has announced plans to conduct a post-election audit of the Edo State gubernatorial election, scheduled for September 21, 2024.

In a statement released by the Centre on Tuesday, it stated that the decision follows its highly acclaimed reviews of the 2023 off-cycle gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states.

The move is part of the Centre’s broader efforts to promote transparency and reduce electoral fraud in Nigeria.

“Building on the success of our widely praised reviews of the Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo gubernatorial elections – recognized for their depth, clarity, and significant impact – the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership is set to conduct a comprehensive post-election audit of the Edo State gubernatorial election on September 21, 2024.

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“Our previous reviews have highlighted critical issues while showcasing the potential of technology to transform Nigeria’s electoral landscape.

“We commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its incremental efforts in adopting technology, which has notably improved transparency and led to high compliance with electoral rules in the majority of polling units during the last off-cycle elections,” the statement read in part.

Ahead of the election, the Athena Centre called on INEC to implement two key measures: making Form EC8B ward collation results available online in real-time and releasing BVAS accreditation figures immediately after the conclusion of voting to ensure transparency at all stages of the process.

The Centre also announced that it had mobilized a team of 100 staff and volunteers who will work in real-time to download and digitize results from INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

The team will “begin this vital work on the night of the election, ensuring that results are meticulously recorded and analyzed in near real-time using our proprietary tool.”

The statement added that the Centre will formally request election forms and materials from INEC immediately after the polls to ensure a thorough audit of the entire process.

“Immediately after the elections, we will formally request Forms EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, and EC40G from INEC to ensure a complete and thorough evaluation. This time, our findings in Edo State will be published just days after the election, providing the most immediate and impactful review yet,” it stated.

Osita Chidoka, a former Minister of Aviation and Chancellor of the Athena Centre, noted that the Centre’s review provides a pathway towards ending election rigging in Nigeria.

“We are determined to end electoral malpractice by shining a light on the process and holding those responsible accountable. By helping to make the electoral process transparent, we are taking a bold step towards ensuring that the people’s true will is reflected in the results, which is essential for the long-term viability of our democracy and development,” he said.