-Issued in Akure at 3:30pm on Saturday, 16th November 2024
INTRODUCTION
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) has been observing the ongoing process of the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election holding today, Saturday, 16th November 2024 and will continue to follow up the process of the election until the collation and declaration of results have been concluded.
Situation Room note that the generally calm atmosphere in the State has continued into the voting period.
As the process of sorting and counting of votes progresses at the polling unit level, Situation Room wishes to make the following observations:
Opening of Polls and Election Logistics
Field reports from Situation Room observers indicate that polls generally opened early across the State. Poll officials and materials arrived early in 97% of the polling units (PUs) observed and opened polls at the official hour of 8:30am. Also, no shortage of voting materials was reported in the polling units observed.
The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) performed optimally in 99% of the polling units observed. There were, however, isolated cases of malfunctioned BVAS. For example, at PU 7 Olokuta, Ward 1 and FUTA Gate, Gbogi Isinkan Ward, both in Akure South LGA, the accreditation devices malfunctioned but were replaced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The average turnaround time for accreditation of voters by the BVAS was 3 minutes across the State. However, the response of the BVAS was abysmal in PU 9, Ward 2, Ile-Oluji/Oke-igbo LGA, and PU 66, Ward 10, Odigbo LGA.
Priority Voting and Assistive Devices for Voters with Disability
Situation Room observed that vulnerable persons, pregnant women, and voters with disability were mostly accorded priority at the polling units. Assistive devices were sparsely distributed across the polling units where voters with disability are registered.
Findings from observers and member organisation of the Situation Room, TAF Africa, show that assistive materials such as the braille ballot guide, magnifying glasses, Form EC40H PWD Voter Information and Form EC30PWD ‘the written instruction’ for voters with hearing impairment were not available in most of the places they were needed. For example, in PU 2, Ward 5, Ilaje LGA as well as PUs 8, 22 and 28 of Ward 5 in Akure North LGA where none of the required assistive devices were available for voters with disability.
Yiaga Africa’s mid-day report shows that in 31% of the polling units observed, voters “had to climb steps or cross over gutters” to access the polling units, which impeded access of voters with disability in the affected locations.
Election security
Report from CLEEN Foundation observation hub reveals that Security deployment for the election was adequate and proportionate to the number of polling units.
Situation Room observers reported that security personnel arrived early at the polling units. The Police, in particular, were present in 84% of the polling unit observed at the official opening hour of polls, i.e. 8:30am.
Security personnel observed at the polling units were generally polite and professional. In polling unit 64, Ward 1 of Odigbo LGA, the security personnel intervened just in time when thugs attempted to disrupt the voting process. However, a Policeman was observed attempting to influence voter’s choice in polling unit 15, Ward 3 of Irele LGA which culminated in conflict between accredited party agents.
Also, the Kimpact Development Initiative mid-day report indicates that 20 incidents of violence have so far been tracked, none of which resulted in disruption of vote except in polling unit 3, Ward 5 in Idanre LGA where party supporters reported fired gunshots at the polling unit.
Vote Trading
Situation Room notes the trend of persistent vote trading during elections in Nigeria. This situation has continued unabatedly, and heightened in this election. It is worrying that, despite the high presence of security personnel at the polling units, vote trading went on openly and unchecked during the voting hours.
Fake News
Reports from Situation Room member organisation, Centre for Democracy and Development (CCD-West Africa), show that there were 13 incidents of fake news so far in this election.
Conclusion
As the election enters the critical stage of vote sorting and collation, Situation Room urges INEC to ensure strict compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act 2022 and its guidelines with respect to collation of election results. Collation of results has remained a problematic issue for INEC as observed in recent off-cycle governorship elections.
Situation Room welcomes the directive of the Police authority that security of the collation centres will be headed by senior Police officers, including Assistant Commissioners of Police. We therefore expect a smooth and transparent collation process in this election.
We commend the people of Ondo State for their peaceful conduct so far. Situation Room will continue to follow up the election process till the end.
SIGNED:
Yunusa Z. Ya’u
Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Mimidoo Achakpa
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Franklin Oloniju
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
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The Situation Room is made up of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in support of credible elections and governance in Nigeria numbering more than seventy. The Steering Committee is made up of: Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability (formerly Alliance for Credible Elections, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Kimpact Development Initiative, Democratic Action Group (DAG), Women’s Rights to Education Programme, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), DIG Ebonyi, New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), Life And Peace Development Organization (LAPDO), Rural Youth Initiative, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA) and Josemaria Escriva Foundation.
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