Pre-Election Press Statement: March 23Rd 2019 Supplementary Elections
Pre-Election Press Statement: march 23rd 2019 supplementary elections
Monday 18th March, 2019 4pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
After the March 9th 2019 Governorship, State Houses of Assembly, FCT Area Council elections several of the races were declared inconclusive in compliance with the Margin of Lead principle which is derived from Sections 26 and 53 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections issued as a Decision Extract of the Commission on the 12th day of the month of January 2019 states in paragraphs 41 (e) and 43(b).
A total of six states had their governorship elections declared inconclusive. Details of this are provided later in this press release. There were also a number of state constituency elections declared inconclusive as well. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has slated these elections to hold on Saturday 23rd March 2019. However, in its press statement of March 15th 2019, INEC basically stated that it intends to continue with the collation of results in Bauchi State on Tuesday 19th March 2019 even though this decision seems to not be going down well with all political parties in the state.
INEC has also come out with a statement on the elections conducted in Rivers State on March 9th 2019. It has said that the level of collation across the state has been ascertained and intends to complete the collation process expeditiously. INEC says that it will issue detailed timelines and activities for the completion of the election on Wednesday March 20th, 2019.
There are reports of inappropriate conduct of some of the security agencies in some cases in the March 9th elections. While it is clear that some security breaches may have some security personnel being complicit, it is clear that the vast majority of security agents across the country were professional in their conduct. There is a need for adequate disciplinary actions (and if necessary legal) actions to be taken against erring security agents, however the misconduct of some officers does not reflect nationwide conduct of security agents across polling units and collation centres on the 9th and 10th March 2019. For example as there were reports of security interference in Rivers State, there were also reports of commendable conduct from security agencies in Kano State.
INEC has made good efforts to sensitize the public on the developments regarding the inconclusive and suspended elections. This should be sustained as the elections draw nearer.
Election Monitor makes the following recommendations:
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
· Since the elections in six states (Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto) were determined inconclusive and not suspended as in Rivers State, then either supplementary elections should hold in all six states (as originally announced) or further investigations should be made into all six states to determine if there are discrepancies which might necessitate not having supplementary elections. The key here is that a uniform approach should be applied to all six states.
· INEC should continue to engage the public and consider at least one press briefing before the supplementary elections hold on Saturday 23rd March 2019.
· For increased transparency INEC should consider publishing the full list of LGAs, Wards/Registration Areas, and Polling Units where the supplementary elections are scheduled to hold on its website no later than 72 hours before the elections. It is also critical to state the number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected in each polling unit as well, as of the 11th February 2019 when PVC collection was suspended nationwide.
· INEC needs to assure stakeholders in Rivers State during the upcoming Stakeholders Meeting in the state of the integrity of the election results so far available until the suspension of elections in the state. All political parties should be allowed to inspect the results available at all levels and compare with copies issued to them during the election.
· INEC should urgently consider providing a copy of Form EC40G for party agents just as it does for results sheets at polling units and each level of collation. This will dramatically increase transparency and accountability of the collation process especially as regards the collation of cancellations which are critical in determining whether elections will be conclusive or not.
Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies
· The Nigeria Police Force has performed largely commendably in these elections. However it is important that the Inspector General of Police ensure he reminds his officers that partisanship is not expected and will not be condoned from any officer no matter how highly placed.
· The Police should publicise the number of election offenders arrested during the March 9th state elections as it did for the presidential and NASS elections.
· The military have clearly defined roles in elections which include support with election logistics, support for the police if required etc. However interfering in the electoral process is not one of them. For this reason there is a need to look into the conduct of the military in the 2019 General Elections. The Nigerian Army has set up a panel to do this for the Army and even reassigned some of its generals which is commendable. However this is not enough as it is not autonomous.
· All security agencies deployed for the supplementary elections should ensure that they conduct themselves in a professional and neutral manner.
· The Police need to investigate the source and authenticity of messages pervading social media targeted at discrediting the electoral commission. Where such information is found to be false the Police should bring the people behind it to book as such information is not only misleading but inciting which is not helpful in maintaining the peace.
· While security for all Nigerians is critical, attacks on journalists is condemnable. This must not reoccur. The security agents need to synergise to ensure that the supplementary elections are peaceful for all.
Federal Government
· Election Monitor calls on The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari as the head of the nation’s military to institute a thorough assessment of the entire military’s role in the 2019 General elections outside the command and control of the service chiefs. This is to ensure that all relevant issues are identified which can then be appropriately addressed.
· Election Monitor commends the Federal Government for banning the Boeing 737 Max 8 Airplanes from operating in Nigerian airspace as many other nations have done. However there is a need for government to invest more in general aviation safety and thorough inspection of all planes flying in, within and out of Nigeria.
Political Parties
· Politicians should refrain from making allegations against the electoral management body without proof as these will only heat up the polity and mislead the public.
· Political parties should endeavour to deploy trained, competent, well equipped (biro, phone, notepad, tablet if possible etc) and loyal party agents during the supplementary elections.
Media
· The media are enjoined to keep their beam on the supplementary elections. Live coverage of collation has enhanced transparency of the collation process to some extent and should be sustained as much as possible.
· Election reportage needs to be as factual as possible and sensationalism should be avoided. Issues should be reported in context. For example if smart card readers fail in one hundred out of ten thousand locations, then this is equivalent to one percent (1%) of locations. While this is not good, it is however not a massive failure. Care should be taken to describe incidences as accurately as possible.
International Observers
· Election Monitor commends international observer missions who will be extending their stay in Nigeria to observe the supplementary elections as these will provide a unique opportunity for further observing the electoral process in the country.
· Election Monitor also encourages foreign observer groups to get as wide a sample as feasible when assessing the general opinions of Nigerians towards election conduct.
Domestic Observers
· Local observer groups are encouraged to observe the supplementary elections as much as is possible.
· When assessing the conduct on an election in relation to other elections, it is pertinent to do this on a comparative basis leveraging sufficient data points so as to increase objectivity.
Election Monitor encourages citizens and all stakeholders to remain peaceful and law abiding before, during and after the elections.
Voters in the affected locations should reverse the animo of low voter turnout in these supplementary elections as this will make the elections more credible.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Signed
Abiodun Ajijola
National Coordinator
Sumber http://electionmonitorng.blogspot.com
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