Issued: 11:30am, Thursday, 7th January 2016
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has been observing the Bayelsa Governorship election process since October 2015 and has raised various concerns about the conduct of political actors, security and administration of the polls.
Ahead of the election for cancelled areas across the State, the Situation Room wishes to draw attention to a number of concerns that we hope will be addressed in the few days to the poll.
The accusations and credible reports of both political sides mobilizing and arming youth ahead of the election suggests direct breaches of the peace pact made ahead of the election. Both the alleged preparations and the tenor of political language diminishes the credibility of these political parties and their commitment to democratic norms.
The reported intervention of the Police Commissioner in the State in calling ex militants to assert the need for orderly elections is welcome but we underline the importance of adequate impartial security to give voters the confidence that they can vote freely in a fair poll.
Situation Room calls for the following in the lead up to the supplementary election holding on Saturday, 9th January 2016.
1. Political Parties and candidates should cease making threats and accusations over theconduct of the poll and recognize that there are legitimate channels to airgrievances both before and after the polls.
2. Security agencies should note the escalated tension, threats made by political actors, and reported preparations for violence and move to strengthen security in all areas where polls are holding while maintaining the strictest of neutrality in their operations.
3. INEC should exhibit the strongest possible competence and transparency in its management of election day and results. The Commission should release all available results via its ETRAC system at the earliest practical date (including results from the main poll).
4. The national leadership of political parties should note the reputational risk to their parties and damage to the nation should their representatives in Bayelsa subvert fair polls and put all necessary pressure on their members to follow the rule of law.
5. All candidates and their supporters in the Bayelsa poll should recall the commitments made in the peace pact signed in November and cease inflammatory statements and actions that are threatening the integrity of the ongoing election.
Furthermore, the Situation Room calls on all registered voters in the affected polling units where elections will take place in Bayelsa State on Saturday, 9th January 2016 to come out and exercise their democratic right to vote for the candidate of their choice. Situation Room also urges parents and traditional rulers in the communities to caution their wards and youths to safeguard and uphold the values of their society by refusing to be used by the political class.
The Situation Room is made up of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in support of credible and transparent elections in Nigeria and includes such groups as Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Enough is Enough Nigeria, Wangonet, Partners for Electoral Reform, JDPC and Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA), CWAE. Others are Development Dynamics, Human Rights Monitor, Election Monitor, Reclaim Naija, Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Centre LSD, CITAD, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), CISLAC, WREP, Proactive Gender Initiative, Nigerian Women Trust Fund and several other CSOs numbering more than Sixty.