– Issued: 12:00pm, Saturday, 18th March 2023
The Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections has gotten underway, and the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room deployed 2,340 election observers, with at least three election observers per Local Government Area in every State of the Federation, except for the Federal Capital Territory. The Situation Room has observed an improvement in the time of opening of polls and deployment of materials when compared to the Presidential and National Assembly elections of 25 February 2023. However, voter turn-out appears to be low in many places.
The Situation Room wishes to make the following additional observations:
Election Logistics
Situation Room observed early deployment of election officials and materials across the country with many States deploying election officials and materials to the RACs on time. Our network of observers reported that election officials arrived at about 8:30am in 80 percent of polling units visited while accreditation of voters began at 8:30am in about 67 percent of polling units observed. In about 4 per cent of polling units visited, Situation Room observed cases of BVAS malfunctioning. Incidents observed include BVAS failing to start and battery failure. In Polling Unit 002, Ogbaku Ward, Mbaitolu LGA of Imo State, it was observed that the voter register in the BVAS did not match the printed voter register for the polling unit. Situation Room also received reports of non-commencement of election in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State due to a mix up of election materials. Across the States, Situation Room did not observe deployment of assistive materials for People with Disability (PWDs).
INEC IRev Portal
A quick review of INEC’s Results Viewing Portal (IREV) at 12:00noon revealed two uploads for PU 068, Ojugbe Town Hall, Abuloma-Amadi Ama Ward, and PU 029, Ward 07, both in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State. The first is a photograph of a person and the second, an uncompleted result sheet. Situation Room is concerned that this incident is a breach of the election procedure.
Election Security
At the time of this report, the Situation Room observed tension in about 5 per cent of polling units. Sources of these tensions include destruction of election materials, disruption of materials distribution, arguments and quarrels between party agents and fighting among party supporters. Specifically, in Polling Unit 009, Nto Edio 3 Ward in Obot Akara LGA of Akwa Ibom State, ballot boxes were destroyed by aggrieved political party members. Also, in Aluchi Ward, Nasarawa Eggon LGA of Nasarawa State, thugs destroyed materials at the distribution centre thereby disrupting the distribution of materials. The Situation Room is particularly concerned by reports that in some communities in Lagos State, there are traditional festivals coinciding with the election day, which could discourage voter turnout and increase tensions. Situation Room observed the presence of security personnel in 82 percent of polling units observed. The Situation Room also observed security personnel intervening to quell some of the tensions in the polling units and commends this intervention while advocating for vigilance and action against incidents of vote buying.
Vote Buying
The Situation Room observed vote buying in 8 percent of polling units visited. In some the polling units, party agents were asking voters to show who they voted for. There are also reports of voter inducement through sharing of money and food items as well as collection of bank account details of voters. For example, in polling unit 008, Ward 5, Onitsha North LGA of Anambra State, party agents were seen collecting the account numbers of voters. Also, in Polling Unit 002, Bakin Kasuwa, Utai Ward in Wudil LGA of Kano State, party agents were seen sharing fabrics and wrappers to voters. This incident was also observed in Polling Unit 022, Nguru Ward, Nguru LGA of Yobe State. Incidents of voter buying have been escalated by the Situation Room to the Police.
Conclusion
The Situation Room has observed a low voter turnout. There is expectation that voter turnout would improve as the election progresses. We call on election observers, the media and the general public to continue to be vigilant and report incidents to the Situation Room using our contact details.
Call/Whatsapp
09032999919, 08021812999, 09095050505.
E-mail: situationroom@placng.org
Social Media
Twitter/Instagram: @SituationRoomNg
Facebook: Situation Room Nigeria
Website: www.situationroom.org
Hashtag: #SR2023Elections
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SIGNED:
Ene Obi
Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Asma’u Joda
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
James Ugochukwu
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room