Anambra Governorship Election: Yiaga Africa Says Counting Process at Polling Units Was Transparent
- Yiaga Africa continues to issue verifiable and comprehensive reports on the Anambra governorship election
- As part of its Watching The Vote initiative, the election observer group has been at the top of its game ensuring a free and fair electoral process
- A new report and preliminary recommendations on the election have been released by the non-profit group
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FCT, Abuja - Election observer group, Yiaga Africa has declared that the counting process at polling units during the Anambra governorship election was transparent and included representatives from the four political parties that received the most votes.
Executive director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo made the statement at a press briefing in Abuja attended by a Legit.ng reporter on Monday, November 8.
Source: Facebook
The four major parties that received the highest votes at the poll were the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
He said:
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“At 86% of polling units, an APC party agent signed the EC.8A results form, at 98% of polling units an APGA party agent signed the EC.8A results form, at 96% of polling units a PDP party agent signed the EC.8A results form, and at 79% of polling units a YPP party agent signed the EC.8A results form.
“At 84% of polling units APC party agents were given a copy of the EC.8A results form. At 95% of polling units, APGA, polling agents were given a copy of the EC.8A results form. At 93% of polling units, PDP party agents were given a copy of the EC.8A results form, and at 76% YPP party agents were given a copy of the EC.8A results form.
“At 83% of polling units the polling official posted the official polling unit results for the public to see.”
Itodo also reeled out the preliminary recommendations of Yiaga Africa concerning the election.
They are:
Independent National Electoral Commission
1. To enhance the transparency of the supplementary election, INEC should publish the total number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) collected in Ihiala LGA and inform the public on the status of uncollected PVCs.
2. INEC should undertake an audit of the BVAS and ensure all the technological glitches with the device are resolved ahead of the supplementary elections to prevent delays and possible disenfranchisement of voters.
3. Sanction all its staff accused of complicity and conspiracy with political actors and security agents to falsify election, especially Mrs. Comfort Omorogie, Electoral Officer for Orumba north involved in compelling the Returning Officer for the LGA to declare false results under duress.
4. INEC should terminate its contractual relationship with road transport unions, especially those notorious for breach of contractual obligations. In addition to termination, INEC should seek legal remedies against transporters who are liable for breach of contract.
Security agencies
5. Maintain nonpartisan and professional conduct in the Nov 9, 2021 supplementary election.
6. Against the background of security threats in some communities in Ihiala LGA, security agencies should ensure strategic deployment to flashpoints polling units in Ihiala to guarantee the safety of voters, polling officials, and materials during the supplementary election.
7. Investigate and prosecute all security personnel involved in gross misconduct and electoral fraud especially the involvement of police officers in the reported incident in Orumba North LGA
National Assembly
8. The National Assembly should without further delay conclude the amendment to the Electoral Act and transmit the electoral bill to the President for assent.
Yiaga Africa, through the Watching The Vote initiative, has been promoting credible elections in Nigeria by providing independent information on the conduct of elections and independently verifying the accuracy of election results.
Preliminary findings on the Anambra governorship election
Yiaga Africa had earlier released their preliminary findings on the election.
The report which was sent to Legit.ng after voting ended in most areas in the state, was based on verified reports received from 229 of 248 sampled polling units as at 4 pm on election day.
In addition, sixty-six critical incident reports were received and sent to journalists.
Anambra governorship election: Yiaga Africa exposes politicians
Yiaga Africa had earlier accused politicians of inducing voters with gift items and monetary gifts before the election.
The group disclosed this at a press briefing attended by a Legit.ng reporter in Awka on Friday, November 6.
Reading the summary of findings from Yiaga Africa's pre-election observation, Itodo said some citizens were being compromised by collecting fabrics and a token of N1,500 each.
Source: Legit.ng
