The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure credibility of the Ondo state governorship election.
It stated this in Akure on Friday, at the release of its preliminary election statement.
Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Yunusa Z. Ya’u, who noted that past elections were marred by delays, urged INEC to “to ensure the timely opening of polling units and effective logistics management”, which he said can disenfranchise voters and undermine credibility of the election.
He however commended INEC’s commitment to learning from previous lapses, particularly those observed during the Edo State Governorship Election. “We hope that INEC will show the willingness and capacity to live up to that promise”, he said.
Speaking on the functionality of The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), he stated that it is expected to function optimally based on the report from the Mock test. He urged INEC to ensure that trained personnel are readily available to handle technical issues promptly.
Further, he encouraged INEC to prioritize voters with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. He also emphasized the transparency in the collation process, with calls for accessible and well-lit collation venues. “INEC must ensure that the collation process is transparent and venues are made accessible to observers”
He noted that security remains a critical aspect of the electoral process. The Nigeria Police Force, leading the election security operations, has assured adequate arrangements. However, the Situation Room cautions against deploying security forces in a manner that intimidates voters.
Consistent and strategic security deployment across urban and rural areas is vital to prevent disruptions. Professionalism and accountability among security agencies are paramount to maintaining public trust. The Situation Room urged the police to ensure officers uphold the law impartially.
Speaking of logistics and welfare, Situation Room urged security agencies to provide adequate logistics and welfare for personnel to perform their duties effectively. “We urge security agencies to ensure that officers deployed for the election are provided with adequate transportation and timely welfare to enable them perform their duties effectively. Relying solely on INEC provisions has been problematic in the past. This must not resurface in this election.”
Yunusa Z. Ya’u further noted that political parties are under scrutiny for poor voter mobilization and last-minute candidate endorsements. He highlighted the need for electoral reforms to enhance party accountability and warns against vote-buying, which undermines electoral integrity. “Political parties must avoid engaging in any form of electoral malpractice, particularly vote buying. Such activities undermine the credibility of the election and can erode public trust in elections”.
He finally called on all eligible voters to participate peacefully in the election and resist any form of vote inducement. “Selling your vote undermines the development of the state,” he warned.
As Ondo State stands on the brink of this significant electoral event, the Situation Room remains committed to observing and reporting on the process to ensure the will of the voters is respected. With over seventy civil society organizations backing this initiative, the hope is for a transparent and accountable electoral process, marking a positive shift from past electoral tensions and irregularities.
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