Peter Ameh Blasts INEC: “Mahmood’s 2023 Election Will Be Remembered for Broken Promises”
The conduct of the 2023 general elections under the leadership of INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, continues to ignite debate among political actors and voters alike. In a pointed assessment on Sunrise Daily, Peter Ameh—National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and former National Chairman of IPAC—said the polls left “a bitter taste” due to unkept promises and eroded public trust.
“The conduct of the 2023 election under Mahmood leaves a bitter taste in our mouths, and that is what he will be remembered for. He made promises that were not kept.” — Peter Ameh
Tech Promises vs. Polling-Day Reality
Ameh faulted the gap between INEC’s pre-election commitments—especially around BVAS accreditation and IReV real-time uploads—and the experience reported at many polling units. He argued that system inconsistencies and delays in result transmission undermined credibility and dampened voter confidence despite strong turnout in challenging economic and security conditions.
Trust, Accountability & Electoral Integrity
According to Ameh, a lasting democracy cannot be built on shifting explanations. He urged the government and parliament to conduct a transparent review of INEC’s processes, spending, and independence. Without visible accountability, he warned, Nigerians will remain skeptical of outcomes and disengage from the ballot.
What Reform Advocates Want Next
- Enforce end-to-end transparency for result handling, including real-time public visibility.
- Independent audits of tech procurement, stress tests, and election-day incident logs.
- Clear SLAs and escalation playbooks for technology failures at polling units.
- Legal clarity on electronic transmission and admissibility to reduce post-poll disputes.
- Open data portals for researchers, parties, and civil society to verify numbers.
Attribution: Remarks credited to Peter Ameh (CUPP Nat’l Secretary; former IPAC Nat’l Chairman) as discussed on Sunrise Daily. This article is an editorial news summary for public interest and search discoverability.
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