…Reveals hotspots for violence

Despite high collection rates of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the Governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states. Yiaga Africa has projected a low voter turnout in the respective states owing to the spate of pre-election violence.
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According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the number of Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) collected in Bayelsa is 1,017,613, Imo, 2,318,919 and 1,833,160 in Kogi state.

A member, Working Group of Watching The Vote, YIAGA Africa,
Ezenwa Nwagwu, in a pre-election briefing on Friday in Abuja further blamed the expected low voter turnout on a deep sense of citizens’ distrust, apparent fear of intimidation, voter fatigue and loss of faith in elections as a means to achieving democratic leadership.

Nwagwu advocated for an eleventh-hour confidence-building voter education to improve voter turnout.

He lamented the increasingly volatile pre-election environment with the spates of attacks in Oguta, Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Okigwe, and Ehime/Mbano Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Imo state and the prevalence of alleged election motivated violence during campaigns in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

Disclosing that Yiaga Africa was concerned about the volatility and could potentially limit voter participation, and the situation could be exploited to intimidate and attack political opponents, he noted: “Undoubtedly, the insecurity will gravely impact the quality of the election in those affected areas if not checked.

“Yiaga Africa expresses concern with the unassailable level of insecurity and the spate of violence across the states especially in Imo and Kogi states.

“For instance, INEC requires adequate security protection to deploy materials to some highly volatile Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Imo state that are prone to violence e.g. Oguta, Orsu, Orlu LGAs amongst others.

“Improved security deployment in volatile areas will enable voters, election observers and media practitioners in particular to participate in the election across the three states.”

Nwagwu also raised concern about the obnoxious abuse of incumbency powers manifesting through restrictions of campaigns, imposition of fines and levies on campaign posters and attacks on political opponents.
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“Yiaga Africa notes with grave concern the unequal playing field for political parties and candidates to compete. The exploitation of incumbency powers against candidates undermined the opportunity for fair competition.

“Incumbents in the three states introduced repressive policies to stifle political opponents and other stakeholders. In Imo state, the government, through the Imo Signage and Advertisement Agency, imposed a N54 million fee for billboards, posters and other campaigns.

“The Imo and Kogi State governments, through a circular, booked all the rooms in all the hotels in the state, which tactically restricts hotels from providing accommodation to other stakeholders like media, election observers.”

Nwagwu warned that the lack of accountability for the fatalities and attacks recorded in the pre-election period deepens the culture of impunity pervading the electoral process.

He stated that the successful administration of a peaceful and transparent election is dependent on the effective collaboration and coordination with respective institutions like the INEC, the Nigerian Police and other security agencies.

He urged INEC to meticulously configure the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and ensure only trained officials manage the devices on election day and stressed the need to ensure strict compliance with the upload of authentic result sheets from the polling units on INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) to enhance transparency of the results management process.

In her recommendations, Yiaga Programme Director, Cynthia Mbamalu urged INEC to ensure the operational shortcomings in previous elections are properly addressed ahead of the elections, especially the early deployment of election materials to all polling units.
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Mbamalu advised that, collation and returning officers deployed in the election must be individuals of proven integrity and impeccable character, urging INEC to ensure effective oversight to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and guidelines on results collation.

She went on: “INEC should ensure proper and timely communication with stakeholders on the election day process, challenges experienced and immediate plans to address those challenges to inspire citizens’ confidence in the process.”

She called on the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Elections Security (ICCES) to ensure that security personnel deployed for the election comply with the code of conduct on election security.

This she noted, includes professionalism in their conduct, arrest of electoral offenders and respect for the rights of citizens, media, and observers, including the right to freedom of movement on election day for duly accredited observers and media practitioners.

She called on Political parties, candidates and their supporters to commit to peaceful campaigns ahead of the election and on election day and refrain from vote-buying and compromising the secrecy of the ballot.

Mbamalu also urged voters to resist efforts to purchase their votes, turn out in their numbers, and vote according to their preferences on Saturday, November 11.
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