By Francis Onoiribholo Bureau Chief Benin
Yiaga Africa, a citizen-led movement under the Watching The Vote (WTV) Working Group has commends the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and security agencies for their swift action in arresting suspected vote-buyers at polling units in Egor and Oredo LGAs.
Yiaga Africa which made the commendations in its Mid-day Situational Statement on the 2024 Edo State Governorship Election at a press conference in Benin also called on the anti graff agency to extend its operations to other LGAs where votes are being traded for N10,000 per voter even in the presence of security personnel.
The group also applauded the Nigeria Police for arresting and disarming political thugs with firearms on the eve of the election, contributing to a more secure election day environment.
Yiaga Africa stated that its initial findings are based on reports received from 287 of the
300 sampled polling units and processed at 1:30 pm on election day, while additional information and updates will be provided subsequently.
Giving reports on the arrival of INEC officials and commencement of polls, the group stated that in the polling units observed, Yiaga Africa noted a slow start to the voting process, with INEC officials arriving in only 43% of polling units by 7:30 a.m.
“The geographical breakdown shows that in 69% of polling units in Edo North, 35% in Edo Central, and 56% in Edo South, INEC officials did not arrive by 7:30 a.m.
By 8:30 a.m., only 17% of the polling units had opened for accreditation and voting, while by 9:30 a.m., 65% had commenced the voting process, the group stated.
On deployment of materials, Yiaga Africa observed and noted adequate deployment of election materials like register of voters, voting cubicle, official stamp, Ink pad, and indelible ink, in the opened polling units observed.
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Yiaga Africa also noted the deployment of assistive materials for persons with disability, with Magnifying glasses deployed in only 27% of the polling unit, braille ballot guide in 38% of polling units and PWD posters in 84% of polling units.
Yiaga Africa also observed the deployment of the BVAS, adding that every polling unit had a BVAS deployed, just as it noted that 6% of the polling units had two or more BVAS devices deployed.
However, in 2% of polling units, the BVAS accreditation count was not shown to voters to confirm that it was set to zero before the start of accreditation and voting, it said.
On the deployment of Party Agents,
Watching The Vote group noted that
All Progressives Congress (APC) party agents were sighted at 98% of polling units, Labour Party (LP) agents were in 77% of polling Units, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) agents were in 99% of polling units.
The group however urged INEC to ensure full compliance with the guidelines in terms of voter accreditation across all polling units as the process continues.
“Security agencies should enhance their presence in polling units and
wards where delays occurred due to the late arrival of INEC officials, to prevent political thugs from exploiting the situation to compromise the process, especially if the process extends into the night.
“INEC should also take urgent remedial actions in polling units where cases of infractions and non compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act and INEC guidelines occurred, particularly non-use of BVAS for accreditation, non-compliance with results counting and collation procedures and this will deepen the legitimacy of the final outcome of the elections”.
Yiaga Africa also suggested that the Security agencies should respond promptly to reports of voter intimidation and attacks at the polling unit to accord citizens the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
“INEC should also ensure strict compliance with the guidelines for the results collation, specifically, party agents and accredited media and election observers should be granted access to the results collation centers.
“While we urge the voters to remain patient and peaceful through the voting and counting process, Yiaga Africa will provide updates as the voting process ends and the results collation commences”.
