Federal Government of Nigeria has been tasked to establish Electoral Offence Commission or any other special electoral court in order prosecute and punish electoral offenders.
The call was made during a press conference held on Wednesday, in Osogbo, State capital of Osun by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), which centers on Project Coordinating Hub for Nigeria Election Violence (NEVR) basically on last Saturday’s Bayelsa State Governorship Election.
Speaking at the event, Coordinator, NEVR Bayelsa State, Executive Director KIMPACT Development Initiative Bukola Idowu explained the aim of Nigeria Election Violence Report (NEVR) which he said is a project coordinated by Kimpact Development Initiative(KDI) in Bayelsa State with the support of International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) aimed at researching on level of violence and other social vices during elections in Nigeria.
Bukola said, in order to carry out survey on level of the spate of violence, Peace related issues, electoral malpractices and vote buying which has become as recurring decimal in the present day of Nigeria, KDI trained and deployed 16 monitors throughout the eight (8) Local Government Areas(LGAs) in Bayelsa State for the Pre-election, Election Day and for the post election days.
“Several peace initiatives such as advocacy visits and town hall meetings were held at different locations and LGAs in Bayelsa State to discuss with key stakeholders so as to mitigate political tensions that may lead to electoral violence. Up until Friday, 15th November 2019; KDI tracked, reported AMD documented forty-two (42) Peace Initiatives, twenty-three (23) Civic Education and nineteen (19) Violence Incidences, adding that”.
Speaking on the general assessment of the election, Bukola said, Kimpact NEVR Bayelsa Election Situation Room received reports from the 8 LGAs of Bayelsa State ranging from Violence( Death, Intimidation of Voters, Carting away and destruction of election materials most especially ballot papers, Disruption by Political Thugs AMD Kidnapping) to Potential Violence (Late commencement, Vote Buying, and Security Conduct) among others.
“On Saturday, 16th November election in Yenagoa, Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw LGAs of Bayelsa State was branded with report of ballot box Snatching and destruction, voter intimidation, and abuse of the electoral proce6.in Olowo Town Hall, Epie I Odoi Polling Unit in Yenagoa LGA, a report was received of a domestic observer that was beating, one person was cut with sharp objects and many others scrambled for safety. In Okunu Townhall in Yenagoa, party agents disrupted voting process”.
“Delay in the opening of polls was obvious in Ward 5 in Yenagoa, distribution of election materials from Registration Area Centre (RAC) did not start till 11am, this led to a protest where protesters who were mostly woman were chanting “No Election in Ward 5”. In Ogbia LGA, Ward 2 election materials left the RAC at 9.22am. Most PUs in Sagbama did not commence polls until 10am. In Nembe LGA, distribution of election materials from RACs were not concluded until 9.20am”.
To ease communication process, Bukola stressed that over 532 pledge cards were circulated and the commitment of the citizens to peacefully participate in the elections were gotten. 9 billboards bearing nonviolence messaging were mounted across the 3 senatorial districts of Bayelsa State. A toll-free line (08000010000) was made available as a medium where the public can also report any incident of violence in their communities.
At the end of the briefing, KID thereafter recommended as follows:
– There should be swift prosecution of electoral offenders and recommends that the federal government consider setting up an Electoral Offence Commission or special electoral court to prosecute and punish electoral offenders as INEC presently is being overwhelmed with other aspects of election administration and management.
– Actions should be taken to mitigate logistics issues in elections as this played out in the 2019 General election and also in the 2019 Bayelsa Governorship Elections.
– INEC to look into engaging Logistics Companies that can distributes sensitive voting materials and equipment to every parts of the country professionally and promptly instead of the NURTW that has overtime being a tool even in the hands of the political class.
– Communication strategy between INEC and security agencies should be strategic and security agencies should ensure that credible security assessment is done, so as to ensure in subsequent election that considerations are given to places that are volatile or prone to violence.
– INEC should investigate the high reports of materials being carted away and destroyed in some wards and LGAs.
– There should be more voter education and sensitization for the citizens.
– As citizens of this beloved country Nigeria, voters as a major stakeholder should beer in mind that no development is possible in the atmosphere void of peace. We implore voters to please avoid being an instrument to foment violence in any area as peace for one is peace for all.
– The major factor that threatened the election was the impunity from the suspected staunch followers of the political class. KDI request the political class to join their efforts with that of other major stakeholders to curb the incidences of electoral violence. They should ensure their followers are not used as instrument to perpetrate violence henceforth, and bear in mind that there is no blood of any Nigerian that is worth their political ambitions. Also, the political class should submit themselves to obeying the guidelines of electoral process as this will aid good and peaceful conduct in elections.
– Security agencies should probe more into the cases of partiality display by some of their members, also for subsequent elections, they should be impartial, fair and ensure justice in the discharge of their roles.
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