Issued: 10:30 am, Monday, 18th July 2022
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) observed the Osun State Governorship deploying observers across the 30 Local Government Areas of the State. Situation Room also received reports from its partner organisations and networks that deployed observers.
In addition to its earlier statements on the Osun State Governorship Election, Situation Room makes the following observations:
General:
The election was generally peaceful with voters displaying enthusiasm to come out to vote while conducting themselves in a civil manner in most of the polling units. This was against the backdrop of apprehension and speculations of violence experienced during the 2018 governorship election in the State There was no tension in 90% of the polling units observed. Although there were no large crowds of voters in many polling units, it was still encouraging to see a good number of citizens come out to exercise their rights and also staying back to protect their votes. In PU002, Ogo Oluwa Kitan 1, RA 04, Ataoja D, Osogbo LGA with 2070 registered voters, electorates stayed behind and counted their votes with the INEC personnel until the results were announced, uploaded to the INEC result portal and also pasted in the polling unit.
Logistics and Commencement of Poll: INEC deployed sensitive materials two days to the election to Local Government Areas of the State and to the ward level a day before the election. By 7:30am on election day, INEC personnel and election materials arrived at 97% of the polling units (PU) visited by Situation Room field observers. Polls commenced by 8:30am in 82.8% of the voting locations observed.
Bi-Modal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS):
There was noticeable improvement in the functionality of the BVAS compared to the Anambra Governorship election where they were first deployed in a Statewide election. In 70.6% of the polling units observed, there were no cases of failed fingerprints and facial detection; however, there were many cases of failed fingerprints and few instances of BVAS machine failures. It is important to note that INEC election officials replaced malfunctioned machines after Situation Room technical team escalated the issue. The performance of the BVAS in terms of the turnaround time was at an average of one minute.
Knowledge of election procedures by INEC ad hoc staff:
99.3% of the INEC ad-hoc staff explained the voting process and displayed good use of the BVAS. In some polling units, voters showed poor understanding of voting procedures and the electoral process. It was also noticed that voting cubicles in many of the polling units were not well positioned to ensure secrecy of the ballots, making it possible for voters to display their ballot papers to potential buyers. Some of the polling units were sited in residential spaces and palaces. In the polling units with large, registered voters, the voting areas were rowdy making it difficult for security operatives to control the voters, while polling units with fewer voters experienced calm and decorum implying that polling units with smaller number units are more orderly, naturally.
Priority Voting and availability of assistive materials for persons with disabilities:
Situation Room notes that INEC ad hoc officials in some instances, gave priority to Persons with Disabilities, elderly persons, and pregnant women in most of the polling units observed. In 12.3% of the polling units observed, INEC deployed assistive materials. However, Situation Room noted that a few of the polling units were located in places with staircases making it inaccessible for people with crutches.
Presence, Conduct and Welfare of Security Officials:
Situation Room notes that security officials were present in 99.1% of the polling units visited. Security personnel were friendly and professional in their approach. Several of the security personnel complained of not receiving their allowances ahead of the election. This is a prevalent issue with the security agencies. In some previous elections, the Nigeria Police had tried to address this problem of remuneration of their personnel on election duty ahead of elections, but it seems there is a relapse which leaves security personnel susceptible to monies being handed by the political class. Situation Room also did not notice any special unit on election day making arrests on votes trading contrary to the pronouncement by the Inspector General of Police, that a special unit has been created and deployed for this purpose.
Party Agents:
Of all the 15 political parties on the ballot, the All-Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had party agents in more than 90% of the polling units observed. The Action Peoples Party (APP) were in 46.3% and Allied Peoples Movement had agents in 39 % (APM) of the polling units visited while the remaining political parties respectively had agents in less than 25% of these locations.
Vote Trading:
Votes buying and selling was done in a more discreet manner than was observed in Ekiti State. Coded communication and coupons were used to extract commitments from voters as opposed to the blatant money exchanging hands observed in the Ekiti State Governorship election. Situation Room received reports of blatant vote buying by political party agents in 32.6% of the polling units observed. Where this happened, there were open negotiations of buying and selling of votes which was well-coordinated by the polling agents.
Transmission of polling units results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal: Situation Room observed that INEC’s IReV portal went live on time; 99.4% of the results were transmitted on the INEC IReV portal as at 11pm. The quick upload of results continues to improve and makes the collation process more transparent.
Conclusion:
Situation Room regrets the violence that led to the death of Hon. Jide Jooba, a PDP officer who was murdered by political party thugs in Ikire L.G.A. We call on the security agencies to investigate and prosecute those involved in this act to serve as a deterrent for any future similar occurrence.
Situation Room notes that the conduct of Osun State Governorship election 2022 shows a marked improvement in INEC’s election administration. INEC’s deployment of materials and personnel, early commencement of polls, quick upload of election results on the INEC IReV portal are particularly commended. There was also a remarkable improvement in the functionality of the BVAS compared to the recently conducted elections in Anambra State, the F.C.T Area Council elections and the Ekiti State Governorship election.
As we head to the 2023 General elections, there is still a lot of work to be done as elections will happen nationwide in 36 States and the F.C.T at the same time.
Commendations/Recommendations:
1. Situation Room commends the good people of Osun State for coming out to vote and conducting themselves peacefully, despite the apprehension that preceded the election due to the rhetorics of the political class.
2. Situation Room commends the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the noticeable improvement in the conduct of the elections. However, we call on INEC to improve on the siting of polling units and revisit its expansion of polling units’ exercise. Adhoc staff will need to be trained and retrained on election procedures. Accessibility to polling units and provisions of assistive materials for persons with disabilities also needs to be improved upon. We also call on INEC to improve on the secrecy of the balloting process as means of addressing vote buying. INEC personnel should take the placement of the voting cubicles seriously and place the cubicles away from people including themselves and security personnel. INEC is also advised to improve on the functionality of the BVAS and keep the processing time at less than a minute per voter ahead of the 2023 elections. Additionally, INEC should commence sensitization of the redistributed polling units to encourage voters to transfer their polling units to the new polling units ahead of 2023 General Elections, for a more efficient election day administration.
3. Situation Room commends the Nigeria Police for the improved conduct of its personnel during the elections. The Nigeria Police however needs improve on the welfare of its personnel deployed on election duty. We call on the Nigeria Police to be proactive in the enforcement of the provisions of the Electoral Act on vote buying as an election offence. Apprehension of electoral offenders is the responsibility of the Police.
4. Vote buying and selling has become a key feature of our elections and should get all Nigerians worried. Electoral corruption poses a serious threat to holding leaders accountable and has consequences for governance responsive to the needs of the people.
5. We commend all stakeholders for a peaceful and transparent conclusion of this election particularly Civil Society Organisations and the Media whose initiatives and advocacy have paid off to a large extent.
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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
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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 Women and Adolescent Empowerment, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), African Centre for Entrepreneurship and Information Development (ACEIDEV), Justice Development and Peace Commission (JPDC) Nnewi, ASPILOS Foundation, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Mac-Jim Foundation, Kimpact Development Initiative, Democratic Action Group (DAG), Women’s Rights to Education Programme, EDO CSOs, Young Innovators and Vocational Training Initiative (YVITI), New Initiative for Social Development (NISD). Other groups are 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, Reclaim Naija, CITAD, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR,) Nigerian Women Trust Fund, The Albino Foundation, Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability (formerly Alliance for Credible Elections), Electoral Hub, etc