With barely 48 hours to the rescheduled presidential and National Assembly polls on Saturday, an election observer, YIAGA AFRICA, Thursday, expressed worry over the shortfalls in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s election materials.
Executive Director, YIAGA AFRICA, Samson Itodo and Chair, Watching The Vote Working Group, Dr. Hussaini Abdu, who addressed newsmen in Abuja, said INEC needs to step up its game as the clock ticks fast to avoid what happened on February 16, 2019, following “reports of shortfalls in sensitive and non-sensitive materials like results sheets, stamps and indelible ink.”
They said that had observed and assessed INEC on openness, deployment of election material, election security including violence, hate speech and misinformation by political actors.
They also pointed that there are reports that indicates poor response from some Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, and Electoral Officers, EOs, who are “reluctant to share information with relevant stakeholders on the state of INEC’s preparedness for the elections.”
WTV Project Director, Cynthia Mbamalu, who expressed concern over the rising trend of fake news and spread of misinformation, hate speech and violence, advised Nigerians to rely on the information from INEC and observer groups such as YIAGA AFRICA, CLEEN, Situation Room, and others which are reliable in providing verifiable information.
The group said: “On February 16, 2019, INEC postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections due to logistical challenges it encountered in deploying sensitive election materials to states. Consequently, the commission issued a modified timetable and scheduled of activities detailing a new operational plan.
“Our findings indicate that INEC is implementing the activities outlined in the operational plan. WTV observers reported retrieval of materials from the LGAs to the Central Bank of Nigeria and reconfiguration of Smart Card Readers across the country. Following our observation, YIAGA AFRICA notes the following;
“Deployment of election material: YIAGA AFRICA is concerned with reports of shortfalls in sensitive and non-sensitive materials such as results sheets, stamps and indelible ink. We are also worried with reported cases of mistakes in the deployment of materials to some states.
“To avert confusion and crisis, INEC needs to ensure a comprehensive open and inclusive audit of retrieved materials. Where materials have been wrongly deployed to states, INEC should ensure the materials are redeployed. In the event of shortfalls, INEC should engage local vendors to print materials to address reported cases of shortfalls.
“Election Security: Security agencies should exercise their functions within constitutional limits. The rights of citizens must be respected before, during and after the elections. YIAGA AFRICA reminds all security agencies involved in election security operations that the 2010 Electoral Act as amended prescribes electoral offences and sanctions. Therefore, it will be unconstitutional and a disregard of the rule of law to invoke sanctions not prescribed by law for electoral offences.”
