By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
A coalition of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Accredited Observer Groups, has described the Governorship and State Assembly Elections of 18th March 2023 in Cross River State, as transparent, free, fair and credible exercise.
The group, under the edges of the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, commended
INEC for being unbiased in the conduct of the election.
A communiqué signed by Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, the Director General of the group, held that INEC complied significantly with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the extant laws in the conduct of the elections.
Dr Nwambu also commended the Police and other law enforcement agencies for their quick response to resolving emergencies and adhering to the rule of engagement.
He therefore, encourage those who lost in the election to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship by congratulating the winners of the said election.
The statement reads;
‘We, as a coalition of INEC Accredited Observer Groups under the edges of the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, having observed the 18th March, 2023 elections in Cross River State hereby unanimously states as follows:
“That the Governorship and State Assembly elections of 18th March 2023 actually held across the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River State.
“That we observed the distribution of the sensitive and non-sensitive election materials from the State Headquarters of INEC to the Local Government Areas and then to the RAC Centres for onward movement to various polling units of the state.
“That elections commenced between 8.30 am and 9.45am across the State with Ad hoc officials observed at about 7am setting up voting cubicles and election materials.
“That there was an increased voter-apathy when compared to the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
“That the BVAS performed optimally at 97% accuracy. A significant improvement when compared to the 25th February, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
“However, we observed 2 instances where the BVAS malfunctioned but supervising officers were quick to replace them as voting continued in good time.
“We observed that during collation in Obanliku LGA, some desperate politicians attempted to induce collation officers to alter already collated results.
“We observed that an ad-hoc staff, one Mrs Glory Effiom Essien who served in Bakassi LGA was shot by a suspected militant on the 19th of March, 2023. However, she is alive and responding to treatment.
“Hoodlums armed with guns and other dangerous material attacked Ogoja LGA INEC collation Centre with an intent of disrupting the collation. Some ad-hoc staffs sustained injuries before the police brought the situation under control.
“Security operatives performed creditably well. The police which is the lead agency in charge of internal security and elections complied significantly with the rule of engagement and fundamental principles of election policing globally.
“We also observed that the Governorship candidate of the APC, Senator Prince Bassey Otu was declared winner of the election having scored the highest number of lawful votes and was declared winner and returned elected.
“Consequently, having analysed INECs logistics in the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials, the performance of the BVAS, the IRev Viewing Portal, the uploading of the results from the Polling Unit level (that is the FORM EC8A Series), we can therefore say that this election in Cross River State was conducted consistent to the electoral guidelines,” it concluded.
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