Polls: Yiaga Africa commends INEC, condemns suppression, vote buying

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Nigeria’s frontline election observer, Yiaga Africa has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the significant improvement in the management of election logistics especially the early commencement of polls due to the prompt arrival of election officials in a majority of polling units.

Yiaga Africa stated this in its preliminary statement on the March 2023 Governorship Election on Sunday in Abuja.

“Unlike the February 25 presidential election, the INEC Election Results Viewing (IReV) portal functioned optimally enabling citizens to download polling unit-level results.

“Electronic accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was successfully implemented in a significant number of polling units observed by Yiaga Africa. “

Yiaga Africa further commended the resilience of voters for participating in the election despite the tense election climate, and trust deficit in the electoral process. “The elections benefited from the vigilance and resilience of citizens who expressed determination to vote and reported cases of manipulation, violence and intimidation.

“The governorship/state assembly elections were signposted with voter suppression, electoral violence, electoral impunity, vote buying and capture of the results management by political thugs in Delta, Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kano, and Taraba states.

“Yiaga Africa is saddened by the cases of attacks on voters, INEC officials, journalists, election observers and personnel of the EFCC by political thugs. These stakeholders suffered grievous bodily harm and psychological trauma. Reports also indicate that at least eight fatalities were recorded within the last 24hrs.

“These election-related deaths are unacceptable and highly condemnable. It is important for security agencies to hold the political thugs and their sponsors accountable for these deaths and attacks.”

Yiaga Africa condemned in unequivocal terms acts of voter suppression fuelled by ethnic profiling, political thuggery and desperation to secure electoral victory at all costs.

“In flagrant abuse of the constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act, registered voters and fellow citizens were denied the right to vote in some states. Voting is a constitutionally guaranteed right of voters that requires free and fair participation of all eligible voters in safe and secure environment. A denial of this right undermines the credibility of electoral outcomes. Yiaga Africa further condemns the cases of voter inducement reported across the country in the election as this act perpetuates electoral corruption and political inequality.”