PRELIMINARY STATEMENT BY NIGERIA CIVIL SOCIETY SITUATION ROOM IN RESPECT OF THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION IN EKITI STATE SCHEDULED FOR THE 21st JUNE 2014
Issued: 2:00 pm, 21st June 2014
The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) comprising more than 60 civic organisations are observing the Ekiti State governorship election holding throughout the State. Observers have been deployed across the 16 LGAs.
Preliminary reports from observers indicate large turn out of voters in most of the polling units visited. Situation Room reports also indicates early arrival of electoral officials and materials in most of the polling units (As at 8:00 am officials had taken position in most polling units). This marked a significant improvement over previous election observations.
Situation Room has so far received few reports of election officials carrying out election duties in a relaxed manner, leading to delays and extended queues in some polling units during the accreditation. The officials however indicate that they intend to accredit all persons on queue until it is cleared.
The accreditation process has proceeded relatively well although there are few reports of voters with their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) not finding their names on the Voters Register.
At the polling units most of security officials have maintained a civil and restrained presence allowing for voters to freely participate in the accreditation process.
Situation Room has however received reports of a few cases of roving police and military personnel who have accosted observers and journalists in an intimidating and unfriendly manner suggesting that they may not have conducted themselves in a manner expected of them.
This statement is issued by the underlisted partner organisations of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room:
1). Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Abuja
2) WANGONET, Lagos
3). Partners for Electoral Reform, Abuja
4.) Proactive Gender Initiative, Abuja
5.) Spaces for Change, Lagos
6.) Enough is Enough Nigeria, Lagos
7.) Development Dynamics, Owerri
8.) Election Monitor, Akure
9.) COHDAT, Owerri
10.) CRP, Abuja
11.) CDD, Abuja
12.) Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Abuja
13.) Reclaim Naija/Community Life Project, Lagos
14.) IHRHL, Port-Harcourt
15.) Stakeholders Democracy Network, Port-Harcourt
16.) Human Rights Monitor, Kaduna
17.) NEGYII, Kaduna
18.) CLEEN Foundation, Abuja
19.) CITAD, Kano
20.) CISLAC, Abuja
21.) NIGERIA FOR CHANGE, Abuja
22.) INTODEM, Makurdi
23.) ACEEDEC, Abuja
24.) Action Aid Nigeria, Abuja
25.) JDPC/ Caritas
26.) CCIDESOR, Owerri