Edo State governorship election failed credibility test: Observers

Mr Achakpa said that voters with disabilities resorted to assisted-voting.

News Agency of Nigeria • September 24, 2024

Edo State gov poll[Credt: BBC]

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and its accredited member organisations have said the just-concluded Edo State governorship election did not meet the requirements of a credible election.

The observers said this on Monday in Abuja while addressing journalists on their observations during the election held on Saturday.

They include Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), Yiaga Africa, Kimpact Development Initiative, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund and TAF Africa.

Reading a joint statement by the groups, Co-Convener, Situation Room, Mimijoo Achakpa, said the group was not satisfied with the results collation process.

Mrs Achakpa said, “The Situation Room and its partners are concerned that the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and guidelines of INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) on collation process appeared to have been compromised in the Edo State Governorship election 2024. The collation process in this election was again a weak link. Our observation of the collation process shows that it was not transparent nor opened to representatives of the various candidates in some cases. In addition, it lacks transparency in the application of the provision of the Electoral Act and the INEC Guidelines on over-voting and cancellation of results from polling units. This raised major question on the lack of clarity and uniformity in the application of rule on cancellation of ballots across different LGAs.’’

According to her, there were several reports of over-voting and lack of inclusion with voters with disabilities resorting to assisted-voting.

She said this compromised their independence and privacy.

The observers therefore recommended that INEC should investigate polling officials and collation officers involved in the alleged violation of the guidelines on results collation.

Director of Programmes, YIAGA Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, urged security agencies to provide the public with information on disciplinary actions taken against their officers found culpable with election fraud.

She said polls ought to be conducted with electoral integrity standards which were not met.

(NAN)

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