Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) continued with its observation of the 2019 Nigeria General Elections and said collation of election results has remaines a major weak point in Nigeria’s election management and administration.
The group noted with concern numerous reports of security agencies interfering in the collation process, deliberate targeting of election and collation officers making their way to the State Collation Centre.
The Convener and Executive Director Policy and Legal Advocacy (PLAC) Clement Nwankwo while briefing newsmen on Sunday in Abuja cited an example in Adoni LGA where the Electoral Officer was targeted and in Ebonyi, ward collation was abandoned.
“The Imo State Governor is also reported to have seized collation officials in Ideato South in an attempt to force announcement of favourable results.
“The exclusion of accredited election observers and party agents from accessing collation centres is reported in Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Zamfara.
He said since 2011, elections in Rivers State have been a major theatre for violence and further escalated after the 2015 elections.
According to him, from February 23 presidential election till date, 28 Nigerians have died.
He said the fatal rivalry between the state leadership of PDP and APC has been the source of this violence and attack on the electoral process since 2015.
“Military and other security agencies have been used to undermine the electoral process with harassment and abuse of INEC officials and wanton destruction of lives and properties.
“Election observers are harassed and the environment for elections feels like a war, disenfranchising citizens who want to participate.
“This has gravely undermined governance and security in the state. The Situation Room notes that the principal actors in this macabre dance of shame are well known but have operated in an environment of absolute impunity for years.
“The Situation Room calls on government to urgently address this issue. We call on citizens of Rivers and indeed Nigerians to lend their voice in condemning these trends and demanding for accountability.
He also called for an independent Inquiry into the conduct of the 2019 Nigeria General Elections.
He said INEC should take the lead in pushing for reforms in the electoral process. “Of immediate importance is the need for INEC to call out publicly institutions, individuals and events that may have undermined its ability to carry out its mandate”.
