CSOs, observers fault outcome of Kaduna guber poll

Accuses INEC, govt officials of abetting malpractices

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)-accredited observers for the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Kaduna State have slammed the electoral umpire for failing to meet the parameters it set for the polls.

A damning report the group released, yesterday, in Kaduna declared that the elections were everything but credible, accusing government and electoral officials of conniving with politicians to rig the vote.

Chairman of the CSOs and coalition of observer groups, Romania Ugwu, in the report, pointed out: “Here is the coalition of INEC-accredited observer groups for credible elections that have resolved to come together under one body. Our choice of Kaduna is deliberate, as the melting pot of Nigerian politics, as well as its diverse socio-economic composition, which generates interest across the country.”

Observer groups that signed the report include Centre of Strategic Ethics and Value (CSEV), Intercontinental Leadership Initiative (ILI), Centre for Strategy and Conflict Resolution (CSCR), Society for Protection of Human Right (SPHR), Centre for Social Value and Early Childhood Development (CSVECD) and Initiative for the Promotion of Civic Obligations and Sustainable Peace (INPROCOSUP).

Meanwhile, the Kaduna governor-elect, Sen. Uba Sani, is expected to receive his Certificate of Return (CoR) at the state’s office of INEC today.

Ugwu, who is also the leader of CSEV, said: “After the presidential and National Assembly elections, Nigerians became highly disenchanted by the process of the elections. Apparently, INEC failed in meeting the parameters for credible, free and fair elections, which it set for itself and promised Nigerians.

“Prior to the governorship and House of Assembly elections, the public was hopeful by the assurances INEC dished out to the electorate on fixing the hiccups witnessed in previous elections. Unfortunately, that was not achieved.”

The coalition, The Guardian gathered, deployed 2,444 observers to the nooks and crannies of the 23 local councils of Kaduna. This enabled it to observe, collate data and analyse from over 80 per cent of the polling units.

Ugwu added: “In view of this, out of sheer patriotism and genuine commitment towards deepening democracy, the mission availed us opportunity to engage in proper observation and assessment of data collated.”

The coalition noted that the election was marred by open vote-buying with cash, food and clothing, especially in Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Zaria, Igabi, Lere, Kubau, Ikara and Sabon Gari.

“In some of these areas across the state, our men reported these cases to the security agents, but in most instances, they failed to take any action.

“Though, there were some arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who handed the culprits over to the police, only for them to be released after a short while,” they added.

The groups criticised INEC officials in the state over their conduct, saying: “The conduct of some INEC staff, especially at the ward and local council levels, was ignominious and a betrayal of the people’s trust in them.

“They wilfully connived with politicians and compromised the process disgracefully. In one of the RAs in Lere, the Returning Officer (RO) disappeared into thin air, only to show up later with a concocted result sheets. It took the resistance of the collation agents of some of the political parties for the result to be rejected.”