A coalition of civil society organisations and election stakeholders on Thursday unveiled an independent election results platform (IERP) to enable citizens to upload and verify polling unit results independently.

According to the group, the platform is aimed at strengthening election transparency, curbing manipulation and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s elections.

The platform was unveiled in Abuja during the inaugural stakeholders’ meeting of the National Electoral Accountability Consortium (NEAC).

Participants described the platform as a citizen-driven technological intervention that would provide an independent repository of election results and improve accountability in the country’s electoral process.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) endorsed the initiative, describing credible elections as fundamental to protecting citizens’ civil and political rights.

Delivering a goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, commended the TAP Initiative and the NEAC for spearheading the project.

Mr Ojukwu was represented by the commission’s Chief Legal Officer, Uzoamaka Ifechi-Fred.

The TAP Initiative is a Nigerian non-governmental, non-profit organisation that promotes citizen empowerment, civic engagement, good governance and human rights.

The executive secretary said innovative platforms that promote transparency, accountability and public participation would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

According to him, the NHRC remains committed to working with relevant stakeholders to advance free, fair, inclusive and peaceful elections.

“This it will do, while protecting every Nigerian’s right to participate in governance without fear, intimidation or discrimination,” he said.

Mr Ojukwu said the NHRC would continue its election monitoring efforts to safeguard citizens’ rights throughout the electoral process as Nigeria’s apex human rights institution.

He urged stakeholders to embrace innovation, sustain constructive dialogue and work collectively to deepen electoral integrity and democratic governance.

Earlier, the Executive Director of the TAP Initiative, Martin Obono, said the platform was conceived to empower ordinary citizens to actively participate in promoting election transparency.

Mr Obono said that citizens would participate by uploading polling unit results directly to an independent platform.

He said the initiative was designed to eliminate concerns over technical failures or political interference often associated with election result management.

Mr Obono also announced the establishment of NEAC, stressing that safeguarding elections requires broad collaboration.

“No single organisation or individual can achieve this alone; we are building a coalition where everyone becomes part of the process of protecting Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of Spaces for Change, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, described the platform as a civic technology solution that would strengthen transparency and credibility.

Ms Ibezim-Ohaeri also said the platform would strengthen public confidence in elections through independent citizen participation.

Represented by the Communications Officer, Joachim Onwe, she said protecting election integrity extended beyond election day and required sustained civic engagement, independent monitoring and collective action.

“Credible elections depend not only on reliable evidence and timely documentation but also on protecting civic space.

‘’It also depends on enabling citizens to freely exercise their constitutional rights to vote, be voted for and participate meaningfully in governance, ‘’ she said.

On his part, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, represented by Sylvanus Yekpe, welcomed the initiative.

Mr Yilwatda said the ruling party supported efforts aimed at promoting transparency in the electoral process.

He urged participants to take the message of peaceful elections to their communities, stressing that violence-free polls remained essential to Nigeria’s democratic stability.

The stakeholders expressed optimism that the IERP would complement existing election monitoring mechanisms. 

(NAN)