Election Observers have faulted the conduct of the Governorship elections
in Kaduna State, saying it was marred by irregularities, intimidation,
vote buying and violent acts during voting and collation of results.
In a statement signed by some Domestic Observer Groups made available to
pointblanknews.com, they accused the Military and officials of the
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of carrying act of
impunity that discredited the election process.
The Statement was jointly signed by Prof. B. Sambo, Initiative for the
Promotion of Civic Obligation and Sustainable Peace (INPROCOSUP), Dr.
Usman Kabiru, Centre for Strategy, Ethics and Value, Sani Umar, The
Integrity Friends For Truth and Peace Initiative and Felicia U. Kwawo,
Women Empowerment for Global Impact Initiative.
The Statement reads:
TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY SOME DOMESTIC OBSERVER GROUPS,
THAT PARTICIPATED IN OBSERVATIONS’ FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL AND STATE
ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN KADUNA TODAY MARCH 15, 2019.
Gentlemen of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen.
OVERVIEW
This report is a product of the observer groups observation by their
members deployed to 189 Registration Areas (Wards) in the 23 local
government areas of Kaduna states.
The observer groups underscore the significance of the state level polls
for the strengthening of democracy in Kaduna State in particular and
Nigeria in general. No doubt, it is easier for citizens to hold elected
leaders accountable at the state level than those at the Federal level,
because they impact more directly on the people. We seek to provide
accurate and unbiased report on the electoral process from the polling
units, wards, local government and state collation centers.
During the gubernatorial and state assembly elections in Kaduna state, it
was obvious that, there was significant improvement in the distribution of
election materials from the state to local government areas, from local
government areas to registration areas, and to polling units. In general,
voting commenced in most of the places on scheduled time, compared to the
Presidential and National Assembly elections held on the February 23,
2019.
Our delegation observed that, the elections were marred by irregularities,
instances of intimidation, vote buying, violent acts during voting,
counting and collation of results as reported in some places. However, no
loss of life was reported anywhere as a result of the elections day
violence.
The actions and impunity with which some electoral actors conducted
themselves, using the military, INEC officials and polling agents, subvert
citizen confidence in elections and threaten the legitimacy of the outcome
of the elections.
PRE-ELECTION DAY
In Kaduna, state-level elections are fiercely contested, as the two major
political parties compete for vote and access to public offices and
resources; and engage in campaigns at the local level. Intra-state
politics and campaigns embitter pre-existing religious and ethnic
tensions. Our members noted how religious or ethnic divisions fueled by
political actors, the clergy and the media create fault lines that could
enhance election-related violence and acrimony for a long time, if not
abated.
Prior to the election, the political space was characterized by
accusation, counter accusation and cross carpeting by political actors.
ELECTION DAY
The distribution of election materials was timely, cases of insufficient
election materials was minimal and voting commenced peacefully and calmly
in places where elections held. However, election materials meant for 7
polling units in Haskiya ward, Kubau local government area were hijacked
by some of the political actors and no election took place in the said
polling units. Despite that and surprisingly, election results were
collated and declared at the collation center, under the protection of
armed security personnel.
Voter turnout was significantly low in comparison with that of
Presidential and National Assembly election.
As the elections progressed, our members observed irregularities in the
voting processes; vote buying and voter inducement, metres away from the
polling units were witnessed in some polling units in Kaduna North, Kaduna
South, Ikara, Kubau and Kachia where supplementary election for House of
Representatives was conducted; Igabi, Giwa, Zaria, Kagarko, Lere, Soba and
Kauru.
Non-usage of card reader characterized the election in Yakawada, Idasu,
Giwa, Shika, Kakangi and Guga wards of Giwa local government area. Moreso,
some polling units in Zaria, Sabongari, Ikara, Lere, Igabi, Soba, Kaduna
South, and Kaduna North were not exempted.
Incidents of snatching and stuffing of ballot boxes were recorded in 13
polling units in Magajin Gari III of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
Such cases were reported to the police by our members, but they decided
not to act promptly. Instances of voters and agent’s intimidation; and
violent acts aided by the military were noted in Kwasallo ward in Soba
Local government area; the military led by senior local council official
disrupted voting, unleashed terror and carted away ballot boxes in some of
the polling units in Ikara, Fala, Sayasaya, Kurmin Kogi, Rumi Auchan,
Kuya, Paki, Jamfalan and saulawa wards in Ikara local Government area.
Some of our observers fell victims of these attacks.
In Yakawada, Idasu, Giwa, Shika and Kakangi wards in Giwa Local Government
Area, the same reports of incidences were recorded by our staff.
COLLATION
Apparently, the observer groups identified most of the manipulations,
irregularities, falsification of results, harassments and intimidation of
party agents, observer groups and the media at the collation centers, at
the local government levels.
In Ikara, Jamfalan, Fala, Kurmin Kogi, Rumi, Auchan and Paki wards in
Ikara local government area; Tudun wada, Ungwan Fatika and ungwan Juma
wards in Zaria local Government Area; Pambeguwa and Haskiya wards in Kubau
Local Government Area; Idasu, Kakangi, Yakawada, Giwa and Shika wards of
Giwa Local Government Area; Hayin Banki/Ungwan Kanawa and Maiburuji wards
in Kaduna North Local Government Areas; Kukuyi ward in Kagarko Local
Government Area; Kwasallo ward in Soba local government area; and Makera
constituency collation centres, security agents in collaboration with
political actors prevented or chased away observers from collation centres
in the places mentioned above. These gave some political actors the cover
to manipulate and rig elections in the mentioned areas.
AVERTED INCIDENT OF VIOLENCE
Observers reported a case where 54 vehicles carrying INEC on election duty
stickers loaded with suspected political thugs armed with weapons, wearing
tags of a political party on election day successfully passes through over
10 security check points unabated, from Kaduna to the Southern part of the
state, only to be accosted at Zonkwa by vigilant members of the public,
who were suspicious of their movement. The incident led to high tension,
burning down of three vehicles, before the police and senior political
actors doused the tension. Before then, four persons were arrested by the
police in Zangon Kataf Local Government.
It is worthy to note, how such mass movement of vehicles and people were
able to cross the boundaries of Local Governments in Kaduna State during
the elections in spite of the heavy security presence is quite intriguing
and worrisome.
Very worrisome was the new method of indiscriminate cancellation of
results at the collation centers based on frivolous and unsubstantiated
allegations. These happened with the connivance of INEC officials and the
security agencies.
It was obvious that INEC officials compromised the electoral processes in
most places where manipulations were prevalent.
The groups condemned the militarization of the political space, as this
has the tendency to erode voter confidence and engender apathy.
Secrecy of ballot was not adequately protected within polling units
observed. Voters cast their ballot very close to party agents, polling and
security officials and the general public, this violates the sanctity of
ballot.
It is instructive and perplexing that, despite the apparent low voter
turnout across the state, number of accredited voters, and votes scored by
the two major political parties are higher than those recorded during the
Presidential and National Assembly elections held on the February 23,
2019.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that INEC should review the age of presiding officers and
appoint only ad-hoc staff who are experienced and matured for critical
positions of polling officers, as many of those used were immature, very
young and lacked the composure to handle challenging situations and take
timely decisions.
INEC should organize workshops for security agencies, who are to
participate in the electoral processes, to sensitize them on their role in
elections.
INEC should conduct a comprehensive review of the conduct of the 2019
polls, involving all stakeholders in the electoral process.
Security agencies should investigate the conduct of their personnel and
other political actors involved in election malpractices and prosecute
them accordingly.
Politicians should learn to abide by the Law, failure to adhere to that
should attract the appropriate sanctions.
It behooves on INEC to do an in-house investigation of its officials who
participated in the conduct of the 2019 elections; and where they are
found to have compromised, appropriate sanctions should be meted on them
as prescribed by law.
EFCC equally should own up to its duty to corroboratively investigate the
activities of all staff of INEC and other security agencies who
participated in the 2019 General Elections.
We call on the Federal government to implement the Justice Mohammed
Uwais-led commission’s report of 2008 and the Ken Nnamani-led electoral
reforms committee’s report of 2017.
The groups call for a comprehensive review of the electoral Act, by the
National Assembly and timely assent by the President, to facilitate and
regulate proper conduct of subsequent elections in the country.
We urge Nigerians to remain calm, protect and defend democracy and respect
all rights of fellow citizens to peacefully participate in politics.
Signed
1. Prof. B. Sambo,
Initiative for the Promotion of
Civic Obligation and Sustainable Peace (INPROCOSUP).
2. Dr. Usman Kabiru,
Centre for Strategy, Ethics and Value.
3. Sani Umar,
The Integrity Friends For Truth and Peace Initiative
4. Felicia U. Kwawo,
Women Empowerment for Global Impact Initiative.