From Abubakar Yunusa , Abuja
Yiaga Africa on Saturday demanded strict compliance with electoral guidelines as the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections progressed, warning that lapses in results collation could undermine the credibility of the poll.
Addressing journalists in Abuja during its preliminary briefing, the civil society organisation urged officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct collation and declaration of results with the highest standards of integrity, transparency and professionalism.
In a statement jointly signed by its Executive Director, Samson Itodo, and Director of Programmes, Cynthia Mbamalu, Yiaga Africa insisted that Form EC60E, the People’s Results Sheet, must be posted at polling units.
The group also stressed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System must be used to upload all Form EC8A results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal and ensure proper transmission to ward collation centres.
Itodo said strict adherence to legal and procedural guidelines was critical to safeguarding the credibility of the outcome and building public trust in the election management process.
He called on INEC to embark on a comprehensive nationwide public engagement campaign to clearly communicate the redeployment of voters to newly created polling units.
According to him, this should include voter education, accessible verification tools such as SMS and online polling unit locators, and collaboration with the media and political parties to prevent confusion and voter disenfranchisement in future elections.
Yiaga Africa also cautioned security agencies to maintain professionalism and impartiality, especially at collation centres.
“Their role should be limited to safeguarding voters, election officials and materials, while refraining from actions that could compromise the integrity of the election,” the group stated.
It further urged political parties and their supporters to desist from disrupting the process, saying its observers would remain on ground through the close of voting and results collation.
On its preliminary findings, Yiaga Africa reported late opening of polling units across several locations.
As of 9am, set-up activities were still ongoing in many polling units observed, with accreditation and voting in most cases commencing around 10am.
In the Abuja Municipal Area Council, particularly Wuse and Gwarinpa wards, polling officials were still arranging materials as at 9am.
In Polling Unit 004, Wuse Ward, Zone 2 Primary School, the voter register was reportedly unavailable initially and only produced after objections from voters and observers.
The group also noted absence of voting cubicles in some polling units in Abaji Area Council, while an ink pad was missing in one location.
Observers further reported that some voters were reassigned to newly created polling units without adequate prior notice.
Although INEC sent SMS notifications, many were delivered on Election Day, causing confusion and overcrowding at several polling centres.
Yiaga Africa expressed concern over disparities in voter distribution within the same polling locations, describing the development as troubling.
It also reported that some polling units closed before the official 2.30pm deadline, contrary to guidelines requiring units to remain open until the last voter on queue casts their ballot.
Heavy security presence in certain areas, the group added, restricted access for accredited observers and voters.
The organisation also documented incidents of vote buying in some polling units, despite prior assurances by INEC and security agencies to curb the practice.
Yiaga Africa urged all stakeholders — voters, political parties, INEC and security agencies — to ensure a peaceful, credible and conclusive electoral process.
