On October 10  Liberia held its general election where citizens elected a president, 15 senators and 73 members of the house of representatives.

In a statement on Tuesday, Samson Itodo, executive director of the organisation, said Yiaga deployed an election study and observation mission (ESOM)  to understudy the electoral governance architecture in Liberia between October 7 and 13.

Itodo said during the elections, the team observed a firm commitment to transparency on the part of Liberia’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) in managing the results tallying process.

He said at the polling places and tallying centres, the NEC officials prioritised the openness of the process over the speedy completion of the process.

“The National Elections Commission (NEC) displayed high devotion to rules and procedures throughout the elections,” the statement reads.

“Polling officials displayed excellent knowledge of the rules and enforced the guidelines at all election levels. In cases where the rules were flouted, the NEC rectified the issues expeditiously based on a detailed procedure outlined in the guidelines.

“Yiaga Africa’s Election Study and Observation Mission (ESOM) observed the design of the ballot papers used for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, contained the party symbol as well as the names and pictures of the candidates; Presidential, Senate and the House of Representatives candidates.

“As a general principle, all voters in Liberia are legally required to vote in polling places where they are registered.

“However, exceptions are made for Liberian citizens on essential election duties such as polling officials, election observers, security officers and any citizen providing support to election observers, e.g., drivers.”

“RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NIGERIA”

Yiaga said INEC should commit to greater transparency in election administration through proactive disclosure of election information and consistent application of election rules and guidelines.

The organisation also recommended that INEC should review the format of ballot papers used in Nigeria elections “to include photographs and names of candidates to improve the quality of electoral preferences and reduce invalidated votes”.

“INEC should undertake a comprehensive audit of the voter register to eliminate duplications, multiple registrants and ineligible voters to improve the integrity of the voter register,” the organisation recommended.

“The audit process should be subjected to an independent citizen review to engender public trust.

“The National Assembly and INEC should amend the electoral legal framework (Electoral Act and INEC Guidelines) to introduce early voting to allow eligible voters on essential election duties, such as security personnel, INEC staff, election observers, journalists, etc., to vote at elections.

“The National Assembly should review the Electoral Act to address the ambiguities in the results collation and transmission process and the role of technology in the results management value chain.

“The National Assembly should strengthen the electoral law to make electronic transmission of results mandatory, including the upload of polling unit-level results and results sheets used at different levels of results collation.”

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Speaking at the Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) strategy meeting in Abuja on Saturday, Gbajabiamila advocated for a legal framework that will change the federal character principle for appointments in the country’s constitution.

He said the idea of basing such appointments on federal character in line with states of origin or religious leaning has not helped in the pursuit of the development of the country.

“I think we should consider an amendment in the constitution to the definition of federal character, because when we talk about federal character within the context of appointments, infrastructure and the rest of it in the constitution, federal character, as it is, is limited to where you are from, like your ethnicity.

“In other words, the constitution says that appointments and all those other things shall be based on federal character, and federal character as we know it now, we have the Igbo, we have the Hausa, the Yoruba. There should be a geographical spread.

“I think it’s time that we expand the definition of federal character because the character of a nation is not just based on your tribe. It’s based on religion; it’s based on where you are from; it’s based on your sex; it’s based on your age.

“So, when you are talking about federal character, you look at all those things and they are what make up the federal character. You talk about so so percentage of women, so so percentage of youth; that is the true meaning of federal and I think that is what should be reflected in the constitution.”

The speaker, however, noted that the education of the youth should be the centre point for the development of the country.

“I do intend to reconvene the house to consider a couple of very important things that will affect Nigerians, like the electoral law, the PIB and more importantly, the bills that are already in the system concerning the development of the youth,” he added.

Gbajabiamila said the house is concerned about how to find solutions to challenges affecting the youth, with focus on creating employment, and encouraging the involvement of young people in politics.

“I will speak with the clerk of the national assembly to quickly figure out how we can get a secretariat for young parliamentarians where they can sit and put heads together beyond the chambers of the house of representatives,” he said.

In her remarks, Cynthia Mbamalu, executive director of YIAGA Africa, who noted that the #EndSARS protests have started the process of a new Nigeria, urged relevant authorities to ensure youth education and participation in government.

She also called on the national assembly to look into reducing the age at which the youth can vie for elective positions in the country.

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Dr Aisha Abdullahi, Co-chair, Yiaga Africa 2020 Ondo Election Observation Mission, stated this on Saturday at a press conference on situational report on the election.

Abdulahi commended INEC for early arrival of materials to polling units which saw large turnout of voters.

Abdulahi said it received reports of vote buying from Akure South, Ose, Ondo West, Ilaje and Akure North with the secrecy of the ballot being compromised.

“Despite attempts by polling officials to prevent voters and party agents from showing how ballot papers were marked, these electoral offenses occurred in the presence of security personnel who made no attempt in some cases to reprimand the culprits,” she said.

She also decried that there was minimum observation of social distancing across all the polling units observed.

Abdulahi, however, noted that the commencement of polls, compliance with INEC COVID-19 protocol on the two-tier queuing system in 88% of polling units, the presence of infrared thermometer and disinfectant/sanitizers in 74% of polling units were observed.

She said, in assessing the electoral process’ responsiveness to the needs of persons with disabilities, it tracked the presence of disability-sensitive election materials with the presence of the Braille ballot guide in 59% of polling units.

Abdulahi also noted that magnifying glasses in 27% of polling units, forms EC 40H (PWD Voter information and statistics) in 93% of polling units and the PWD posters Form EC 30E in 90% of polling units.

Yiaga Africa commended the good people of Ondo State for their peaceful conduct during the voting process and pleaded they remain patient and peaceful through the voting and counting process.

The post Vote buying, low compliance with covid-19 protocol characterised Ondo election – Yiaga Africa appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The governorship election is scheduled for September 19.

In its first pre-election observation report published on Monday, YIAGA Africa said there might be violence during the polls.

It identified 13 out of the 18 local government areas in the state as hotspots where disruption of voting exercise might occur.

In the report signed by Moshood Isah, its communication officer, YIAGA said the pre-election violence may discourage voters from exercising their franchise.

“Reports from our LTOs (Long Term Observers) suggest that the spate of violence and insecurity in the pre-election period may discourage voters from turning up to vote on election day,” the report read.

“WTV (Watching the Vote) LTOs reported the distribution of money or gift items by politicians and their supporters in all the LGAs except Uhunmwode, Akoko Edo, Etsako West, and Etsako East LGAs, while buying PVCs was recorded in Esan Central, Oredo, Orhionmwon, Ikpoba/Okha, and Igueben LGAs.”

YIAGA Africa said campaigns have shifted from issues to personalities, characterised by verbal and physical attacks, identity-based violence, and hate-speech rhetoric.

It said the two dominant parties — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) — in the governorship race are guilty of violent rhetoric, hate speech, vandalism, and violence, adding that cult groups have also repositioned themselves as tools to be deployed in causing chaos during the polls.

“The competition has been reduced to a contest between personalities as opposed to issue-based campaigns. The WTV long term observers reported incidences of violent verbal and physical attacks, identity-based violence, and hate-speech rhetoric as campaign strategies employed by both parties for campaigns,” it read.

“The observers also reported the repositioning of cult groups as political merchandise for the election in some LGAs. While INEC activities for the election have commenced in earnest in some LGAs, observers reported that INEC is conducting very little voter education, especially on the new Voter’s Code of Conduct for Elections during COVID-19. In addition, observers reported sexual and gender-based violence in some of the LGAs in the state.

“The state is also witnessing a surge in cult groups’ activities, especially in Ikpoba/Okha, Oredo, Orhionmwon, and Owan West LGAs. This is mainly attributable to an entrenched subculture of violence built around well-known strongmen, thugs, touts, gangsters, and cultists on the one hand, and the widespread belief that elections cannot be won – or smooth governance guaranteed – without strong-arm tactics and the support of powerful thugs.

“The situation is direr because of the proliferation of small arms and other weapons, which is evident in the free use of firearms at campaign venues.”

The organisation called on security agencies to put adequate measures in place towards achieving a peaceful election in Edo.

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The roundtable is being convened with the Yiaga Africa, European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and EU-SDGN town hall meeting on electoral reforms taking place on June 30th in focus.

The theme of the webinar is: Media as Catalysts of Best Democratic Practices: Yiaga Africa-ECES/EU-SDGN Town hall meeting on electoral reforms in focus.

The thrust of the webinar is to elicit media interest in and facilitate greater media coverage and reportage of the whole gamut of the electoral process to ensure that needed reforms are passed by the National Assembly through needed amendments to the Electoral Act and the constitution.

About Ninety participants (male and female journalists and editors) from the broadcast, print and online media (across the six-geo political zone) shall participate in the webinar in pursuance of the broad objectives of the EU-SDGN project.

A team of media experts comprising Hamza Idris, Editor of Daily Trust; Taiwo Gorge, Editor, The Cable; Dr. Biodun Ogidan, Nigeria Community Radio Coalition; Mary Atolagbe, Secretary, Nigerian Guild of Editors/Deputy Director Digital Media Voice of Nigeria (VON); Imoni Amarere, Executive Director, AIT and Eze Anaba, Editor, Vanguard shall offer insights on the theme

The event shall also feature opening remarks by Dr. Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director, IMS; Mrs. Laolu Olawumi, Programme Manager, EU-SDGN and Manji Wilson – Coordination Advisor/Electoral Administration Expert, ECES while Samson Itodo, Executive Director of YIAGA Africa shall give the background note among others

There will also be special interventions by Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman and Jake Epelle, Executive Director of The Albino Foundation.

The event can be viewed live on IPC facebook media page and social media handles

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared David Lyon, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s exercise, as winner of the election.

Faraday Orunmuwese, vice-chancellor of the University of Benin and returning officer for the election, said Lyon polled 352,552 votes to defeat Duoye Diri, his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 143,172 votes.

But in a statement on Monday, YIAGA, which had earlier announced that it could verify if results declared by INEC reflect the votes cast, said there were inconsistencies in the Bayelsa election.

“INEC has now released results for the Bayelsa governorship election without holding elections in all polling units. INEC announced 352,552 votes or 71% for APC and 143,172 or 29% votes for PDP,” the statement read.

“These results are not consistent with the PVT estimates of between 62% and 46% for APC and 52% and 37% for PDP. This suggests that the results were manipulated during the collation process. If the tabulation process had been conducted properly then INEC’s official results would fall within the PVT estimates.

“YIAGA AFRICA Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) YIAGA AFRICA WTV adopts the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology for election day observation at the polling units. The PVT is a proven and advanced observation methodology that employs well-established statistical principles and utilizes sophisticated information technologies.

“As stated in YIAGA AFRICA preliminary statement, the PVT is not able to independently verify, regardless of the outcome, who won the Bayelsa gubernatorial election because elections did not occur in 61 of 250, or approximately 24%, of sampled polling units. This reduces the PVT sample and therefore YIAGA AFRICA cannot verify the outcome of the result.

“However, the PVT is still able to determine if the collation process was conducted properly and expose manipulation during the collation process. If the official results as announced fall outside of the PVT estimated range, then the results have been manipulated during the collation process.

“The official results as announced by INEC for APC and PDP are not consistent with the PVT estimates… INEC announced that APC received 352,552 or 71% of the vote while the PVT estimated range is between 62% and 46% meaning that the largest vote share APC could have received is 62% of the vote.

“Similarly, INEC announced that PDP received 143,172 or 29% of the vote while the PVT estimated range is between 52% and 37% meaning that the smallest vote share PDP could have received is 37%.”

YIAGA shed more light on the methodology used in covering the election and also asked INEC to audit the result of the poll.

It also called on the national assembly to priortise electoral reforms, challenging President Muhammadu Buhari to “leave a legacy of reforms that will end electoral impunity, strengthen democratic institutions and deepen the culture of democratic accountability”.

“YIAGA AFRICA PVT sample of polling units was drawn according to well established statistical principles and is truly representative of all of the polling units because the percentage of sampled polling units for each LGA is similar to the percentage of all polling units for each LGA,” it said.

“For example, Brass LGA has 8.80% of all the polling units in Bayelsa (159 of 1,804) and 8.80% (22 of 250) of the sampled polling units are in Brass LGA. While not identical, the percentages for every LGA are very close, clearly demonstrating that the PVT sample is representative of the entire state.

“Those found responsible, from INEC, political parties, security agencies, or any other body, for either preventing a polling unit from opening or manipulating the results during the collation process must be held accountable and brought to book.

“The culture of impunity in Nigeria must end. Further, Nigeria needs to retool her legal framework to address the duality of jurisdiction of courts and timeline for the determination of pre-election cases.”

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The election observer and monitoring group said this in a report released on Sunday.

It also charged INEC to conduct a new election, saying Saturday’s did not reflect the votes of the people, irrespective of the results.

The group had earlier said it could detect if the result of the election reflect the will of the people.

“The challenges in Kogi state 2019 gubernatorial elections squally lies on the failures of security agencies, the police in particular, political parties, the major candidates and their state and non-state accomplices. These stakeholders deliberately worked to undermine the election,” the report read.

“They appeared to be more concerned about electoral victory than the credibility and legitimacy of the process. The unacceptable vote buying and violence perpetrated by the systematically recruited and prepared party officials and thugs were carried out under the full glare of the almost nonchalant security officials.

“They acted helplessly as if they were under instruction not to respond to the situation, if not already prepared to support the brigandage. As a result, the results of these elections cannot be said to reflect the preferences of voters in Kogi.

“In such a circumstance, YIAGA AFRICA calls upon INEC to conduct a thorough investigation of the conduct of the Kogi governorship and senatorial elections and to conduct a new election that gives voters a genuine opportunity to exercise their right to vote.”

The group, which deployed a pre-election observation (PREO) mission across all 21 local government areas (LGAs) in the state, said there was a trend of stocking up small arms and an active recruitment of thugs in the state before election procedures commenced.

“YIAGA AFRICA deployed a total of 548 observers for the Kogi elections with 500 polling unit observers deployed to 250 sampled polling units. Polling unit observers provided reports on the conduct of the election day process from the opening of polls to the posting of results at the polling unit level,” the report read.

“While Watching The Vote’s (WTV) Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) data demonstrated the commencement of polls in the state, the situational analysis of the process highlighted major infractions that had significant potential of impacting the credibility of the process.

“WTV expressed concern about the possible impact of this stockpiling and recruitment on the conduct of peaceful elections in the state, especially given the lack of response by security agencies before the elections. The PREO findings indicated a trend of voter inducement, including the purchase of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and voter information details.

“WTV observed political parties moving from house to house in Ankpa LGA to document names, polling unit numbers and addresses of citizens with PVCs, offering advance payments of five hundred naira (N500) and gift items such as vehicles in several communities ahead of the election.”

The group also attested to cases of intimidation of voters and polling officials by armed men and party agents, ballot snatching, vote buying, accreditation without card readers, and attack on both observer groups and journalists alike.

“WTV recorded intimidation and harassment of voters, observers and polling officials by unknown armed men and party agents of some identified political parties,” it said.

“These cases were reported in: PU 017 Ward 12 and PU 027, AyingbaEtiaga Ward Dekina LGA, PU 001 Ward C Lokoja LGA, Ojuwo Junction Market Square, Ankpa; Lokoja (PU 001, Ward C), Ofu (PU 005, Ugwalawo ward), Ankpa (Ojokwu ward 3) and Igalamela/Odolu (PU 022, ward 08) LGA.

“The process degenerated to sporadic shooting in PU 027, AyingbaEtiaga, Dekina LGA. YIAGA AFRICA also received reports of intimidation of journalists and election observer groups like Inclusive Friends, Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room and Search for Common Ground in the full glare of security agencies who made no effort to forestall or reprimand the political thugs.

“Election infarction, including snatching and stuffing of ballot boxes and papers were reported and confirmed in: PU 006Anyigba ward, Dekina LGA, Asuta Ward, AAyetoro Gbede Unit II High Court PU, 005, OdoluAjaka ward 1, 22/08/07/015, Oganaji LGEA Primary School, AnyigbaDekina.

“These were also reoported in PU 008 Olamaboro Ward 3 Ceremonial Sqaure, PU 003 Ukwo Ward 01 OLUBUN PU, ASUTA WARD, PU 003, Obaji Ward 1, Kogi K. K LGA, PU001, Ejule/Alla Ward, Ofu LGA, PU001, Ogaki Ward 06, PU-002,Aiyetoro Gbede, PU-003,Ilemo Mopamuro, PU-004,Lokoja.”

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Thomas-Greenfield, who was the assistant secretary of State for African Affairs between 2013 and 2017, made this known on Tuesday while speaking at ’20 Years of Democracy: a Retrospect’, a programme organised by National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in partnership with Ford Foundation and YIAGA Africa.

The diplomat predicted that the 2023 election will be challenging because of a gentleman’s agreement that has to be honoured.

“Nigeria’s politics is an old men’s club. There is also a gentleman’s agreement to rotate power between the north and the south.

“The next election will be a challenging one because of a gentleman’s agreement to rotate power”.

Speaking on the challenges of Nigeria’s democracy in the past 20 years, the diplomat said Nigerian elections have a huge potential for violence.

“Nigeria made a huge step backwards to violence in 2019. I read that 30 people lost their lives to electoral violence but I think it would be higher than that,” she said.

According to Thomas-Greenfield, elections are expensive in Nigeria because there is no framework for candidates to receive donations from electorates.

Although Nigeria was given credit for having the financial ability and institutional infrastructure to hold elections, Thomas-Greenfield said the government occasionally “uses its ability to pay to influence how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) performs”.

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In a statement, Samson Itodo, YIAGA’s executive director, expressed shock that Buhari did not consider any person below 35 years of age worthy of any ministerial position.

He said this is despite the president’s comment that “young people of Nigeria are now set to leave their mark on the political space”.

“Yesterday the ministerial nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in office were announced at the floor of the national assembly. The list comprises 43 nominees coming from across all 36 states and federal capital territory with notable 7 women and no single person below the age of 35,” he said.

“The conspicuous absence of young people under the age of 35 in the ministerial nominees read by Senate President Ahmad Lawan as sent to the national assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari has to come us and the entire Nigerian youths as a big surprise.

“It is indeed disappointing to see that despite the giant strides made by young people especially in the area of politics and leadership, President Muhammadu Buhari has not seen any person below the age of 35 worthy of any ministerial position.

“Despite publicly proclaiming that young people of Nigeria are now set to leave their mark on the political space, just as they have done over the decades in entrepreneurship, sports, art, media entertainment, technology, and several other fields, we are surprised that President Muhammadu Buhari did not consider young people in his cabinet.

“While portfolios are yet to be assigned to ministerial nominees, it is obvious that from the list, the minister of youth and sports will not be a youth as none of the nominees is under the age 35 not to talk of the new National youth policy which classifies youth between 15 and 29 years old.

“This is in contrast with the faith President Buhari showed to young people when he signed the Not Too Young To run bill into law.”

He said the emergence of speakers under the age of 35 in some state houses of assembly demonstrates the youth’s readiness to “effectively deliver”.

It urged governors to appoint young competent people to head various commissions in their states.

“While the wait for President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet is over, the wait for youth inclusion in his cabinet still lingers,” Itodo said.

“State Governors across Nigeria still have an opportunity to change this narrative by appointing young competent people with character and capacity to head various commissions in the state.”

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