The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) said its data from election observation from Ekiti indicated that 86 per cent of the National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials arrived at their polling units by 8:30 a.m.

Adele Jinadu, chairman, Centre for Democracy and Development, Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), made this known in the centre’s preliminary statement of the ongoing Ekiti governorship election.

Mr Jinadu said that the centre had been closely observing the election after  CDD-EAC deployed 205 trained and accredited observers to the field for data collection.

“Reports from CDD field observers indicate that the general atmosphere in which the election is being conducted has been peaceful.

“Voting has largely proceeded smoothly without any reported incidents of violence or disruption of the process.

“The Electronic Observer Platform further showed that 74 per cent of INEC poll officials addressed voters before 8:30 a.m. the official time of the poll opening.

“CDD-EAC observers also reported a significant increase in the number of female INEC officials, with the data showing that eight polling units had poll officials who were exclusively female,” he said.

Mr Jinadu said that the CDD-EAC data further showed that while four polling units had no female at all; all the others had both male and female INEC officials present.

He said that  CDD-EAC data indicated that in at least 83 per cent of polling units, critical election materials like ballot papers, BVAS devices, results sheets, ballot boxes and the voter register were available.

Mr Jinadu said that in most of the polling units, CDD-EAC observers did not see or report any form of campaigning; however, in 11.3 per cent of polling units campaigns and display of campaign materials was reported.

He said that the data showed that  all polling units reported the presence of at least one party agent. However in Polling Unit 003, Ward 06 in Ekiti West LGA, only one party had an agent.

Mr Jinadu said that CDD-EAC data showed that in all 168 Polling Units, BVAS was available; however in polling unit 010 Ward 10, in Irepodun Ifelodun LGA, there was no BVAS at the time when the poll was expected to commence.

(NAN)