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Tag: foreign 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.

  • Foreign observers hail military’s conduct during polls

    Some Independent Foreign Observers have praised the military for their professional conduct during Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

    They gave the commendation in a statement made available to The Nation yesterday.

    The observers, in the statement signed by their leader Bill Campbell, said having examined the roles of stakeholders in the electoral processes, found out that the military played commendable roles in the Saturday’s elections.

    The statement reads in part: “As part of its mandate to monitor and report the credibility of the general elections in Nigeria, the Independent Foreign Observers undertook a systematic survey of the dynamics inherent in the Nigeria society and consequently designed a template that accommodated the religious and ethnic sensitivity of the Nigerian people in various states of the federation with a view to getting the objective responses from the electorate as the case may be. The essence was to help observe the dynamics, make recommendations and commendations where necessary based on the competence of the team.

    “It was observed among other things that some section of the country whipped up ethnic sentiments, which could undermine the electoral process.

    “Some segment of the populace also played the religious card before the electorates in an attempt to induce or coerce votes for their political parties.

    “Consequently, there was palpable tension in the polity as regards the security of lives and properties.

    “The government, therefore, deployed a mix of security agencies to maintain the sanctity of the electoral process as well as maintaining law and order throughout the polls.

    “Elections were conducted in the 36 states in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Our team of observers were on ground to monitor the polls and turned in a detailed report on what they observed in the various states that they were deployed.

    “From monitoring the elections, it was observed that the electoral process was able to maintain its credibility by the combined efforts of the security agencies led by the Nigerian Army that ensured that incidences of ballot box snatching and other electoral vices were curtailed.”

     

     

     

     

  • UN, foreign observers seek support for INEC

    The United Nations (UN) and international election observers who are in the country for the general elections want Nigerians to remain calm despite the postponement of the polls.

    They are also  encouraging  Nigerians to support the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC) in implementing the new election dates.

    The UN and the observers in a statement in Abuja yesterday noted that the postponement has caused disappointment  but stressed the need for Nigerians to keep faith with INEC.

    They said: “We, the Heads of the international election observation missions and the United Nations present in Nigeria, have taken note of the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the 2019 general elections due to logistical and operational challenges.

    “While we note that this decision has caused disappointment for many, we call on all Nigerians to continue to remain calm and supportive of the electoral process as INEC works to implement its new timeline.

    “We urge INEC to use this time to finalise all preparations and ensure that the new election dates are strictly adhered to. We encourage INEC to provide regular updates and information to the public on its preparations in the coming days and weeks to enhance confidence and trust in the process.

    “As we continue to closely observe preparations across the country, we stand in solidarity with the people of Nigeria in their desire for credible and peaceful elections.”

     

  • El-Rufai meets foreign observers

    Governor  Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State yesterday met with observers from the International Republican Institute, United States of America, ahead of today’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.

    Read also: INEC chairman speaks on postponement of polls

    “The last security review we did was yesterday 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.”