Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, YiagaAfrica, Kimpact Development Initiative, Nigeria Women Trust Fund, ElectHER and TAFAfrica.
A coalition of election observer groups for the 2024 Edo State governorship election has raised serious concerns over the transparency of the results compilation processes by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This is contained in a statement jointly signed by several organisations participating in the ongoing off-cycle gubernatorial election in Edo State.
Signatories of the statement include the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, YiagaAfrica, Kimpact Development Initiative, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, ElectHER and TAFAfrica.
The coalition highlighted several disturbances that occurred during the consultation process.
“We, the accredited and undersigned civil society organisations observing the 2024 Edo governorship election, express our concern over the transparency of the ongoing compilation of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” the group stated.
Observed interruptions
Observer groups noted reports of disruptions at local and ward government data collection centres, citing alleged intimidation of an INEC official.
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The group also pointed to a case of attempted collation of results in contravention of the Electoral Law and INEC guidelines.
“Reports of disruptions at local and ward government results collection centres, including intimidation of INEC officials and attempts to collect results in contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.”
However, they called for a clear delineation of the roles of security agencies, stating: “The primary role of security agencies during elections is to ensure the integrity of the process, rather than to create conditions that undermine its transparency.”
About security agents
As preparations for the elections progress, the coalition has insisted that the role of security agencies in the elections is to safeguard the process and not to create a situation that undermines the transparency of the process and thus negatively affects the credibility of the election outcome.
The collection of results is currently underway at the INEC headquarters in Benin City, the capital of Edo State.
This crucial process involves the official counting and verification of results from various polling units across the state. So far, results from about 13 local governments have been officially declared, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Monday Okpebholo leading by over 20,000 votes.