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Tag: election observers

  • Election: Foreign Observers warns Millitary against harassment of journalists

    Pan-African Women Project, a foreign election observer group from South Africa, has cautioned the military against harassment of Journalists and other election observers who would be monitoring the governorship and House of Assembly elections on Saturday in Ebonyi State.
    The group stated this at a pre-election briefing in Abakaliki.
    It claimed that during the last presidential and National Assembly elections, election observers including some journalists were harassed and detained while they were discharging their lawful duties.
    The leader of the group, Lebogang Mhkize appealed to the security agencies especially the army to accord election officials necessary support to discharge their duties.
    “We also wish to call on the security agents not to allow themselves to be used by the political class to intimidate, harass or cause fear in the electorate, electoral officers, media personnel and election observers in any way as there were reported cases of harassment perpetrated on some journalists and election observers by soldiers in the last presidential poll,” Mkhize added.

    Read also: 70 PDP members defect to APC in Ikeja

    The group also lamented the pockets of violence during the presidential election in some parts of the state.
    “On further investigation, it was revealed that the violence at these places were masterminded by some political elites across party affiliations who sponsored political thugs for the purpose of enhancing their political interest”, Mrs Mhkize said.
    While describing the violence that trailed the election as anti-democratic, the group called on the people of the state to refrain from any act of violence as this can be inimical to the interest of the state.
    The group further stressed that the role of every stakeholder in any electoral process can either jeopardize and have a negative influence in the society or help to re-streghten the culture and values in the polity.

  • How we were assaulted by thugs in Akwa Ibom, by election observers

    International observers in last Saturday’s elections have recounted how they were assaulted by thugs working for some top politicians in Akwa Ibom State.

    The observer groups – Pan African Women Projects and Intercontinental Leadership Initiative – at a news conference yesterday, berated the credibility of the elections in the state.

    The Publicity Secretary of Pan African Women Projects, Ms Mphoentie Keitseng, said they were assaulted by thugs in Essien Udim council where the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Akwa Ibom Northwest, Senator Godswill Akpabio, hails from.

    Read also: UK, African leaders congratulate Buhari

    Her words: “The collection of materials at many collation centres was characterised by thuggery and intimidation of the electoral officer and INEC ad hoc workers. At Essien Udim Collation Centre, Foreign/Domestic Observers and reporters were attacked by the thugs of Akpabio while trying to enter the collation centre. This incident was recorded. Godswill Akpabio and his thugs took their bestiality to another level when they ambushed and attacked foreign observers who visited Essien Udim…”

    Efforts to reach Akpabio’s media aide, Anietie Ekong, were unsuccessful.

  • No force can upturn results, say election observers

    •CSOs warned against ‘playing spoiler’

    A coalition of Accredited Election Observers yesterday said the will of the people as expressed through the ballot last Saturday must not be jeopardised.

    According to them, no force can upturn it with any fabrications, concocted figures and unsubstantiated data.

    At a briefing at No. 323, Odusami Street, behind Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Lagos, the group warned some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to avoid playing the spoiler and making themselves available as a willing tool in the hands of the reactionary politicians.

    President of Campaign for Dignity in Governance Comrade Razaq Olokoba, who addressed reporters on behalf of the coalition, said: “We have confidence in the conduct and the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday.”

    According to him, reports from their members, who took part in the election as observers across the country, showed that the poll is satisfactory.

    “Nevertheless, there were incidents of violence in a few areas of the country, but recorded history shows that this election is the most peaceful and well-organised in the last five elections that have held. We call on Nigerians that this time, we should all exhibit an optimum level of patriotism. The country needs all our support at this moment and all other time; we must be determined and resolute in standing with INEC. The result announced by INEC should be the most authentic and acceptable to Nigerians,” he said.

    The citizens, he said, are way beyond primitive politics and ventures.

    Olokoba added: “Nigerians have demonstrated that they have risen above this type of reactionary machinations.

    “We and all the election observers that meant well for the people of this country will continue to objectively inform Nigerians the right and the true reports as we proceed. We encourage INEC, the security agents and all the institutions and apparatus of the government that were involved in the last election to remain focus and resolute. Nigerians have taken a resolve to stand by IINEC and all the institutions.”

     

  • Accredited election observers granted visa-free waiver

    •Land borders to be closed from noon today •Don’t be scared by police presence, IGP tells voters

    Minister of Interior Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd) has approved a visa-free waiver for foreign accredited election observers.

    The development, according to the minister, is due to the rescheduling of the 2019 general elections.

    Also yesterday, the Federal Government announced the closure of land borders with effect from 12:00noon today to 12:00 noon on Sunday.

    In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Comptroller General (CG), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, the affected individuals and organisations wishing to extend their stay or travel back to their countries and return for the next election are advised to visit Nigeria Immigration Visa Desk at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Headquarters.

    The minister emphasised that no fee is to be paid for the process.

    The statement reads: “Sequel to the rescheduling of the 2019 general elections to February 23 and March 9, 2019 and considering the plight of accredited election observers and monitors, who were caught-up by the rescheduled election, the Minister of Interior has approved a visa fee waiver.

    “All affected individuals and organisations wishing to extend their stay or travel back to their countries and return for the next election are advised to visit the Nigeria Immigration Visa Desk at the INEC Headquarters.

    “The desk officers will attend to those requiring extension of their visa issued Gratis (No Fee Charge). This provision became necessary to afford those affected the opportunity to travel out or return without violating the Immigration provisions that relates to entry and exit with valid visa and document. All the affected election observers and monitors are to take advantage and note.”

    Dambazau, who gave the order that the country’s land borders be shut, said the development is to restrict movements across the borders during the election days.

    A statement issued by the NIS Comptroller-General: “Further to the Presidential election taking place on the February, 23, 2019, the Minister of Interior has directed the closure of all Nigeria land borders with effect from 12:00 noon of Friday, February 22 to 12:00 noon of Sunday, February 24, 2019.

    “This is to restrict movements across the borders during the election days. The public is to take note and ensure compliance.”

    But, the Acting Inspector General (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has urged the electorate to come out en-masse tomorrow to exercise their franchise.

    The IG also said the electorate should not be intimidated by the presence of police personnel and other security agencies deployed for election duties.

    In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the Force spokesman, ACP Frank Mba, said the personnel deployed have been adequately trained and are under strict instruction to abide by the Standard Operational Procedures of the Force and international best practices in the conduct of an election.

    He also said they would remain patriotic, steadfast, professional, neutral and civil, but firm in their conducts and actions throughout the period of elections and beyond.

    The statement said: “The general public are therefore implored not to feel intimidated, but rather should be emboldened by the presence of security personnel deployed to their areas, to go out and exercise their franchise.”

    Calling on the public to cooperate with the security operatives, the IGP warned those who may want to undermine the electoral process by engaging in snatching of ballot boxes, hate speeches and vote trading to desist from such acts or face the full consequences of the law.”

     

  • El-Rufai meets foreign Observers, assures them of security

    *’They asked about my previous comment’

     

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Friday met with observers from the International Republican Institute, United States of America, ahead of Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections and assured them of adequate security during and after the polls.

    El-Rufai whose recent warning to foreign observers against interfering in the elections sparked controversy told his guests to “feel free while moving in the state.”

    Speaking to reporters yesterday at the end of the meeting at Government House, Kaduna,the governor said: ” We invited them to feel free and if they need additional security,we will provide for them. We told the foreign observers to feel free while moving in the state.

    “They asked me about my comment on the NTA live programme, the security situation in the state and I explained to them.

    “The last security review we did was on Friday with all security agencies. All the paramilitary like the Immigration Service, Prisons, Civil Defence and the Nigeria Customs, will all go out to provide security. The security agencies are ready for the task to assist the police.

    “As you observed we have a history of violence during elections in Kaduna State. We have made it very clear that vigilance groups will not be allowed to provide security tomorrow.

    “I call on all voters to come out and vote.We are confident that everything will go well. No one should be involved in taking another person’s life. So we are confident that the elections will go smoothly.“

  • INEC to domestic, foreign observers: you’re to observe, not monitor

    …Launches election translation App

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) Tuesday morning briefed accredited domestic and foreign observers on the preparation of the commission ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly polls.

    Not fewer than 196 observers have been accredited for the elections.

    At the briefing, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu reminded the observers that “You are observers and not monitors.”

    He also assured them of their security, saying that necessary security arrangement has been put in place in all the states they intend to deploy their people to within the country.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu who also briefed the observers on the security arrangement assured them of the readiness of the security agencies for the polls.

    Adamu noted that the no movement restriction will be observed within INEC stipulated time.

    He also assured Nigerians and the international community that the police will be professional and neutral in the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.

    Read Also; INEC engages EFCC, FIU, CBN, others to track campaign finance

    Besides, the IGP said the police to be deployed for duty will not be carrying arms.

    He however said a detachment of armed police will be stationed some distance from the polling units to provide security.

    The Acting IG also noted that police personnel on election duty are expected to wear INEC best for easy identification.

    He noted that the police will be looking out for vote buyers/sellers and also touts so as to prevent disruption of the elections.

    Adamu also urged voters who may want to wait to protect their votes to maintain the distance stipulated by INEC.

    The police boss also warned that security personnel who are not deployed for election should stay away from the polling units, saying any security personnel found wanting will be arrested.

    Likewise, he said observers not accredited will be arrested, after clearance from INEC.

    An App, for the election translation, was also launched as part of the arrangement to ensure smooth observation of the polls.

  • UN provides electoral support in Central African Republic

    UN provides electoral support in Central African Republic

    The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has distributed some 6,500 election observation kits to candidates and political parties over the weekend.

    The spokesman office of the UN Secretary-General confirmed in a statement on Tuesday in New York that electoral materials were delivered to all 16 prefectures, as well as to the diaspora and refugee host countries.

    It said the delivery from the prefectures to the polling centres were ongoing.

    Meanwhile, the office added that the training of polling agents has been completed in 15 prefectures and in Bangui.

    “Political parties and candidates continued campaigning in Bangui as well as other provinces, with few electoral related incidents reported.

    The support follows the training of political party monitors carried out earlier in the month by MINUSCA and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

    The country is set to hold legislative and presidential elections on Dec. 30, after a December 13 referendum that favored a new constitution.

    The new constitution limits the president’s tenure to two terms and reins in armed militias.

    Central Africa Republic has been rocked by violence since a mainly Muslim rebellion in 2013. MINUSCA was set up in 2014 to help bring peace in the country after a breakdown of governmental authority and vicious inter-communal fighting.

  • TMG deploys 325 observers for Kogi guber poll

    TMG deploys 325 observers for Kogi guber poll

    The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) said on Thursday that it would deploy 325 citizen-observers for the governorship election holding in Kogi on November 21.

    The Chairman of TMG, Mr Ibrahim Zikirullahi, told newsmen in Lokoja that the observers would comprise of 300 stationary and 25 roving ones.

    He said that they had been carefully selected from across the 21 local governments in the state.

    He said that the observers would be deployed to 300 randomly selected polling units out of the 2, 548 in the state.

    Zikirullahi said that the TMG, an independent and non-partisan organization, is a coalition of 400-civil-society groups based in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    According to him, their duty is mainly to provide timely and accurate information on the conduct of voting and counting of the results of the election.

    “ TMG’s Quick Count is the only observation methodology that can independently verify the official results of the governorship election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, “ the chairman said.

    He said that the observers had been trained and accredited to witness the entire election process from start-up at the polling units through the announcement and posting of official results.

    “TMG calls on the electorate to go to the polls confident that their votes will count.

    “ Quick Count will provide independent verification of the gubernatorial results as announced by INEC.

    “If the official results reflect the ballots cast at polling units, TMG will confirm them.

    “If the official results do not reflect the ballots cast at polling units, TMG will expose them,” Zikirullahi said .

  • Court grants election observers bail

    Court grants election observers bail

    An Owerri Magistrate’s Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, yesterday granted bail to the 180 independent election observers, who were arrested in Owerri two days before last Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State.

    The accused, said to be accredited members of an Osun State non- government organisation, the Justice and Equity Organisation, were charged with misdemeanour and unlawful gathering with conspiracy to commit crime.

    The defendants, Waheed Lawal and 179 others, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges.

    The defence counsel, Uche Onyeagocha, thereafter applied for bail for the accused, arguing that investigations into the matter had been completed and that the offence for which they were accused was bailable.

    But the prosecution counsel representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Emmanuel Ogbodu, opposed the bail, insisting that it would be difficult to get all the accused back as they were many.

    Magistrate Maureen Onyewuotu granted the accused bail at N50,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

    She held that the Owerri prison was congested and would not accommodate more inmates.

    The case was adjourned till February 5 for hearing.