A Non-Governmental Organisation, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) that coordinated Nigeria Election Violence Report (NEVER) in Southwest on the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 23 has issued a comprehensive report on its fundings concerning some pockets of violence that rocked the elections.
A press statement made available by the coordinator of KDI during a press conference in Osogbo revealed that polls were almost marred by vote buying, poor election logistics, potential violence, intimidation of voters, uncivilised conducts of deployed security personnel to polling units across the south west.
The group argued that most of the ad-hoc staff were incompetent in their conducts saying that it had a vere negative effects on the overall outcome of the elections.
The statement reads in full:
“With great pleasure, we welcome you to this press conference organized by kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) in respect to the Nigeria Election violence Report (NEVER) project for the 2019 General Elections.
The objective of this press conference is to inform the General public and major stakeholders on the key findings and observations of the kimpact on Election violence Report during the last presidential, senate and federal house of Representive Election and to give recommendations based on the last election findings on the forthcoming governorship and house of Assembly Election.
ABOUT ON NEVER PROJECT
The Nigeria Election violence Report (NEVER) is supported by the international foundation for Electoral systems (IFES).
The project focuses on Developing the capacity of civil society to monitor, analyze and respond to incidents of Election related conflict before, during and after Election in Nigeria. It’s encourage collaboration and dailogue between Election stakeholders in society to mitigate and / or prevent Election violence.
To archive this these obejectives ,IFES through Kimpact trained and deployed 106 monitors throughout south west GEO-POLITICAL ZONE during the pre -Election, Day and post -election periods.
Severe peace intiatives such as advocacy visits and town hall meetings have been held in each States of south west to discuss with the key stakeholders so as to mitigate Political tensions that may lead to Electoral violence, over 6000 pledge cards were circulated and the commitment of the citizens to peacefully participate in the Election still on going.18 bill boards bearing non violence messages have been mounted across the 18 Senataorial District in the south West, a toll free line had been made available as a medium where the public can also report any incident of violence in their community.
KEY FINDINGS AND OBSERVATION OF KIMPACT ON INCIDENCE OF ELECTORAL VIOLENCE, POTENTIAL VIOLENCE OTHER RELATED ELECTIONS GLITCHES.
As part of kimpact Development Initiative’s efforts to deepening democratic process, a kimpact/NEVR south west Election, situation room was set up for credible, real-time analysis that will become one of the most sought-after Election information during and after the pools. We commend the patriotic Nigeria citizens who were committed and shown persistent determination to excercise their franchise on Saturday 23rd of February 2019, going against all odds., Kdi also salute the NYSC.
Kdi also received reports from their situation room,like vote buying, Election logistics, potential violence, intimidation of voters, security conduct Deployment of security personnel to polling units across the south Western state.
Remarks on election
Averagely in most Polling units of South West, voting started around 10:00am, there was a report from onile Around, ward 4,Akinyele LGA ibadan that started at 2:50 pm. Delay of polls starting at ondo,ogun and Lagos. The voting started in timely coalition in these states.
Logistics Arrangement For The Election.
Saturday 23rd February 2019 Election was branded with grave logistics issues which include deployments, accreditation and voting are yet to commence. Report of incomplete number of sensitive materials in most Polling unit ,
Issue of smart card readers.
Issue of smart card readers on Election day were worrisome, according to the report it really affected, ijoko in Ogun state,ido and Egebeda LGA of Oyo state where voting has to be paused .
Conduct of AD-HOC Staff.
It was largely reported that some AD-HOC officer dusplayed a bungling performances in Osun and Ondo.”
The coordinator also bemoaned the torching of voting materials at the INEC office in Ijebu-Jesa, Oriade Local Government Area of Osun state.
But in a swift response, ACP Ohakhilome said it was only an empty ballot box, a mat and a generating set there were burnt by some hoodlums
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