#NigeriaDecides2019: Observers hail INEC over credible, transparent polls

Election observers under the platform of Independent Foreign
Observers have commended the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), and Nigerians for transparency and credibility
of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

They gave this commendation at a press conference this afternoon
in Abuja. The team leader, Dr. Stuart Young, an academic and
diplomat spoke on behalf of other members of the team at its
presentation of preliminary report.

The observers in the text  entitled, “A Preliminary report
on the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections in
Nigeria” described the conduct of the elections as as fair and an
indication of non-interference by the government or any of its
agents.

The text reads, “In the build-up to the 2019 General Elections
in Nigeria, the Independent Foreign Observers mission, a team from
the United States of America, United Kingdom, and the European
Union (EU), visited Nigeria with a view to observing the elections,
in line with best global practices. Consequently, more than 200
local observers were recruited and trained to monitor the polls,
with a view to ascertaining if the elections were free, fair and
credible.

Observations:

From the reports filed in by our observers deployed all around
the country, it was recorded that the turnout of voters across the
country was impressive, as supporters of the All Progressive
Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were active
in casting their ballots for their respective candidates.

The conduct of the electoral officials appeared to be
consistently fair and an indication of non-interference by the
government or any of its agents.  There were, however, some
polling units that experienced late arrival of voting
materials.

In both Abuja and Nassarawa state, observers witnessed polls
opening late, and voting beginning after the scheduled start. 
In Abuja we saw voting begin as late as 9:30am, and in a Mararaba
polling station in Nassarawa voting did not begin until 1pm.

Observers in Asokoro 1, Abuja witnessed a situation where there
was confusion over the exact location of a polling station, because
of the previous demolition of a Total service station that had been
used to identify the location for voters.  INEC officials set
up at the nearest Total service station where they performed their
duties for citizens who had lined up there.  Upon discovering
there was a collection of voters in a different location, where the
former service station was located, INEC officials moved their
voting materials to this location.  Some citizens were worried
that the votes that officials brought to the new station indicated
ballot box stuffing, but were eventually mollified when officials
explained the confusion over the location.

There were also reports of unruly behaviour at some polling
units that required the immediate deployment of security to restore
order. An example was in Kaduna state where voters attempted to
provoke security personnel of which a senior military officer
quickly resolved the situation. There were additional reports of
scattered violence in Lagos, Obu state, River state and Bayelsa
state.

Incidences of votes buying were dealt with by surveillance
mounted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission and other security agencies that consisted of the Army,
police, and the civil defence.

The various security agencies were professional in handling
incidences of ballot box snatching and other forms of electoral
malpractices. Worthy of mention is the professionalism displayed by
the Nigerian Army.

The security agencies were on top of the situation in areas that
were hitherto known for election-related violence and the other
regions as a whole.

Observers watched votes being counted at polling stations,
noting that the announcement of the vote from each ballot was
announced clearly, and citizens were monitoring the process along
with officials and party monitors.

From reports collated from our field officers, the 2019 general
elections to this point seem free, fair and credible as neither
party can fault the transparent process that occasioned
accreditation and voting.

In Area 10, Garki, Abuja, observers noted a disabled (blind)
person, who was given assistance in entering the polling station,
allowed to progress to the front of the line unimpeded by the
voters present, and was able to cast his ballot with relative
ease.  Observers were impressed that it was common citizens,
not officials, who took the initiative to help their fellow citizen
exercise his democratic right.

Suggestions:

The 2019 general elections in Nigeria, though appearing to be
free, fair and credible at this juncture, using our international
set parameters and the feedback gathered from the over 200
observers deployed to the various states, there are a few areas
that need to be looked into in the conduct of elections in the
future.

The functionality of card readers must be fully tested and
properly calibrated before deployment to the polling units, before
the elections to reduce the use of manual voting which takes time
and might be exploited.

Improvement is needed in the areas of logistics and training of
electoral officials.  For example a digital voting system,
perhaps using mobile phones, tablets and/or voting cards embedded
with codes that can be swiped to register a voter’s choice, should
be explored.

A stronger effort to start voting on time would make the process
more comfortable and healthy for voters, as well as improving voter
turnout.

Continuing voter education beyond the election period should
focus on efforts to identify and weed out Fake news in order not to
mislead the public.

Nigerians should be able to vote in their current place of
residence, provided they have lived there for a designated minimum
amount of time. A mechanism should be put in place to cancel their
registration in their home state, when they register in their new
home area.

Conclusion:

The elections appear to have been free, fair and credible to
this point. It is therefore advised that winners and losers should
see beyond themselves and their political aspirations, to promote
the unity of Nigeria as a country.

Worthy of commendation are the staffers of the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), the officers and soldiers of
the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for maintaining
orderliness and contributing to a sense of calm and security which
enabled domestic and foreign observers to efficiently carry out
their duties, and voters to exercise their democratic right and
responsibility.

We would like to congratulate the Nigerian government and
Nigerian citizens for their enthusiasm, perseverance and fair play
in pursuing their democratic ideals through this election.