Issued 10.00am: Sunday, 6th December 2015.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room observed the December 5 2015 governorship election in Bayelsa State, deploying observers across theeight local government areas of the State.
Our Observations showed the following findings:
- Security:
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room findings indicate that although certain areas in the State had been previously identified as high risk areas, security agencies (particularly the police) did not deploy effectively to reflect this, making it difficult for INEC to be provided adequate security to deploy personnel across the State.This resulted in the failure of the elections to hold in the entire Southern Ijaw Local Government Areaas well as in polling units and wards in Nembe, Brass and Ogbia Local Government Areas.
- INEC:
The Situation Room findings indicate that there was late deployment of personnel and materials to various polling units across the entire State. In addition, there were several incidents of failure of the card reader machines to authenticate fingerprints of voters.
- Political parties:
Situation Room findings indicate that political parties stoked the fires of violence in the State during this election leading to incidents ofviolent clashes between their supporters, occasioning deaths, injury and mayhem. The conduct of the politicians defied their open show of signing of a peace accord.
Our observers also noticed incidents where political parties also brazenly dispensed cash to buy votes at polling units.
- Electorate:
Situation Room observed an atmosphere of apathy fueled by the fear of violence and low civic education. There were also reports of voters who turned up in polling units, actively receiving cash for votes. Situation Room also received isolated reports of under-aged persons with voters’ cards in PU 06/03/07/010 in Opokuma North Ward of Opokuma Local Government Area.
Conclusion:
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room is concerned about the lapses on the part of INEC and security agencies in the conduct of the December 5 Bayelsa governorship election. The lack of synergy between INEC and the security agencies may have resulted in some of the challenges associated with the election, including late delivery of materials, security breaches and failure of election to hold in the identified local governments areas, wards and polling units.
Situation Room calls on INEC to evaluate the use of card reader technology in election with a view to improving on its efficiency and effectiveness. Situation Room is also disappointed with political leaders in the state whose conduct, carriage and disposition encouraged aggressive behavior and violence on the part of their supporters.
Situation Room further calls for investigation of all acts of violence and the arraignment and prosecution of all persons that have promoted or carried out violence in this election.
Situation Room notes that voting would continue in areas where they failed to happen on December 5 2015 such as the whole of Southern IjawLocal Government Area and certain units in Nembe, Ogbia and Brass Local Government Areas and expects that every effort would be made to ensure full participation of all voters and electoral staff in order that everyone is given the opportunity of exercising their franchise.
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This statement is issued by the partner organisations of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room present in Bayelsa State.