…..Cautions against Militarisation, Monitization of Elections in Nigeria
The YIAGA Africa has expressed reservation over militarisation and voter inducement during the Ondo State Governorship Election held on Saturday, 16th of November, 2024, declaring that the outcome of the election reflected the popular wish of the electorate.
The organisation also reiterated call for the creation of the Electoral Offences Commission and Political Parties Regulatory Council to solve the miralds of problems militating against the conduct of election in the Country.
A Non – Governmental Organization, the YIAGA Africa through its Chairman of the 2024 Ondo Election Mission, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, stated this on Sunday at Alagbaka in Akure while addressing journalists on the Process and Results Statements on Ondo State Governorship Election held across the 18 local government areas of the State last Saturday.
Interacting with journalists the organization’s leadership described as unacceptable excessive militarisation of the election with the presence of heavy military personnel who mounted road blocks on major roads across the the State.
The YIAGA Africa described the militarisation of the Ondo State election as unnecessary, pointing out that election is a civil matter that should be devoid of much attention from the Country’s Military.
The organisation which explained that the Police is the lead security agency that should provide all the security required to maintain peace and order during the conduct of an election, stressed the need for government to checkmate unnecessary deployment of military men for election while the Policemen should be more empowered to handle election assignments.
YIAGA Africa pointing out its concern, said, if the military is to be deployed, the heads of the Police and other civil authorities should be informed so as to keep the members of the public notified of the presence of the military.
In her own response during the media interaction with journalists, the Director of Programs for YIAGA Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, called for the need to unbundle the roles and duties of the Independent National Electoral Commission, due to recent complains from them that they are presently overburdened with a lot of responsibilities and too many roles.
Mbamalu in her submissions, expressed the readiness of the YIAGA Africa to join the calls and the advocacies on the need to create two new separate federal agencies namely the Electoral Offences Commission and the Political Parties Regulatory Council in the ongoing efforts to effect an electoral reform in the Country.
“Therefore, the PRVT findings reveal that the results announced by INEC for all 18 LGAS are consistent with the PRVT estimates for the govermorship election in Ondo state. Had the official results been changed at the ward, LGA, or state collation centres, they would not have fallen within the Yiaga Africa WTV estimated ranges.
“Because the official results fall within the estimated ranges, governorship contestants, parties, and voters should have confidence that the official results for the 2024 Ondo governorship election reflect the ballots cast at polling units.”
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should take deliberate steps to protect the secrecy of the ballot and enforce its electoral guidelines especially as it relates to the secrecy of the ballet.
2. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should ensure that the BVAS is consistently updated and upgraded to ensure optimal functionality.
3. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should ensure that the ad-hoc officials are properly trained on disability provisions for each election. This includes ensuring the polling units are set up in a manner that enables access for voters with disability, the magnifying glasses and braille ballot guide are provided to voters who need them and the form EC 40H is duly completed in every election. This will ensure that voters with disabilities are properly catered to. We also call on the State to ensure public facilities are disability friendly.
4. Election offenders arrested during the Ondo election should be handed over to the police for due prosecution. In addition, security agencies should be more proactive in arresting and prosecuting perpetrators of voter inducement and vote buying.
5. Political parties and candidates should refrain from this persistent and unacceptable culture of impunity and this ugly trend of buying votes and looking for ways to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
Political parties should commit to gender-inclusive leadership recruitment by ensuring that women are elected into party leadership positions and elected in party primaries in subsequent elections.
Stakeholders such as INEC, NOA, and CSOs should invest in political and voter education to build citizens’ consciousness on the importance of democracy and the value of the vote
CONCLUSION
Yiags Africa urges Mr. Lucky Aiyadatiwa and all APC supporters to be magnanimous in their victory and calls on all candidates, political parties, and Nigerians to display political maturity and uphold peace. Yiaga Africa commends INEC on the timely opening of polls with essential materials present and the timely announcement of results.
We commend the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) for its efforts in coordinating and mobilizing the required resources for a peaceful election as evident in the level of order that characterized the conduct of the election.
Yiaga Africa commends the people of Ondo for their resilience and dedication to conducting a non-violent election. We encourage the people of Ondo state to engage in the democratic process even after the elections by ensuring that elected officials are held accountable for their campaign promises.
Yiaga Africa extends its gratitude to the many Nigerians across the state who volunteered to serve as non-partisan citizen observers for the Watching the Vote (WTV) initiative on behalf of the people of Ondo. We commend the dedication of the permanent staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State and beyond for their efforts in organizing the election. We also appreciate the commitment of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who served as poll officials.
Furthermore, Yiaga Africa would like to thank the media, other election observer organizations and the international community for their support and solidarity in the Ondo 2024 governorship election.
“Yiaga Africa remains committed to promoting credible elections and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process. The strength of Nigeria’s democracy is dependent on our consistency as citizens to constantly demand accountability and hold our institutions to high standards.”
