Issued: 3:00 pm, Saturday, 11th November 2023
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) is observing the Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States and will continue to closely follow the election process as it unfolds until its conclusion. Situation Room deployed 220 observers across the 56 local government areas in the three States. The Situation Room notes that the Governorship elections took place amidst deep concerns over violence ahead of the polls and the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver credible elections.
At this time, we wish to make the following observations:
Deployment of election officials and materials:
Deployment of election officials and materials progressed without major hitches in the three states, except for Bayelsa State where a boat carrying election personnel and materials for Registration Area 17 (Koluama) in Southern Ijaw LGA capsized. Deployment of election officials and materials was also affected by the abduction of the Supervisory Presiding Officer assigned to Registration Area 06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State. In Kogi State, transportation was not available in 26 percent of the Registration Area Centres (RACs) visited. Materials were not properly batched in 17 per cent of the RACs visited and the required number of election officials were not available in 15 per cent of the RACs visited. The Situation Room urges INEC to take measures to ensure that these incidents will not result in the disenfranchisement of the registered voters in these areas.
Opening of polls:
The Situation Room observed a variance in arrival of election officials and opening of polls in the three States. Reports from Situation Room field observers indicate that a majority (86 per cent) of the polling units observed in Kogi State opened by the official opening time of 8:30 am, while in Bayelsa State 66 per cent of the polling units visited opened by 8.30 am. In Imo State, opening of polls was delayed in many polling units as reports from our observers show that only 29 per cent of the polling units visited opened at 8:30 am.
Bi-Modal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS):
The BVAS functioned optimally in most polling units across the three States. However, there were reports of malfunctioning of the machines. In Bayelsa State, there were incidents of malfunction in PU 003, RA 11, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area (LGA). Similarly, in PU 008, RA 03, Ekeremor LGA, BVAS reportedly rejected fingerprints and facial recognition of some eligible voters. In Kogi State, a number of eligible voters were disenfranchised following the incidents of BVAS malfunctioning in PU 003, Ukwaja Ward, Idah LGA.
Presence and Conduct of Security Personnel:
Situation Room notes that security personnel were present at most of the polling units visited. In Kogi and Bayelsa States, observers sighted security personnel in 92 per cent of polling units visited and 86 per cent of polling units, respectively. In Imo State, security personnel were sighted in 47 per cent of the polling units visited. The security personnel deployed for the elections were relatively civil in their conduct within and outside polling units. However, some security personnel were observed standing-by while vote buying was going on.
Vote Buying:
Situation Room received reports of widespread vote buying across the three States. Some of the specific instances include sale of votes for amounts ranging from as low as N1,000 to N30,000 at various locations. In Bayelsa State, for instance, voters were seen showing their thumb printed ballot papers in exchange for rice, drinks and money in PU 015, RA11, Southern Ijaw LGA.
Election Violence:
Situation Room partners reported 19 incidents of violence as at 12:30 pm in the three States. These incidents of violence were recorded in Anyigba, Dekina LGA of Kogi State, Sagbama and Brass of Bayelsa State and Ikeduru LGA of Imo State. In all, 2 deaths (in Agala Ogane, Anyigba, Dekina LGA) and several injuries were reported.
Voter Turnout:
On a general note, citizens came out to vote, contrary to the initial apprehension that trailed the beginning of the electioneering process. It was still a relief to see some citizens come out eventually to exercise their rights.
Results Management:
The Situation Room notes reports of pre-filled results sheets in Kogi State -Ogorima/Mangogo LGA where someone was apprehended with filled results sheets and 1million naira cash in a bag. There were also reports of filled result sheet in RA Eika/Ohizeni, Okehi LGA. In Adavi LGA, PU 044, RA01 there were reports of unavailability of election result sheets and failure to upload results on the iRev portal. Situation Room calls for thorough investigation of these incidents in order to preserve the integrity of the elections.
Conclusion: We call on INEC and security agencies to ensure the peaceful and transparent conclusion of these elections. Situation Room specifically calls on security agencies to continue to maintain law and order through the remaining phases of this exercise. Also, the Situation Room commends the Media for following the process courageously despite the tensed political environment.
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SIGNED:
Y.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 and transparent elections 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. Other groups are: Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), Centre LSD, CISLAC, WARD-C, Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI), Enough is Enough Nigeria, WANGONET, JDPC, Yiaga Africa, Development Dynamics, Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN), Stakeholder Democracy Network, Human Rights Monitor, Community Life Project (CLP)/Reclaim Naija, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR,) Nigerian Women Trust Fund, The Albino Foundation, Electoral Hub, etc.
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