2019 polls: Some VIPs didn’t conduct themselves well -CDD


The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has observed that some VIPs did not conduct themselves well during the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections in spite of the warning from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

CDD through the Head, Election Analysis Centre (EAC) Prof Adele Jinadu said that there were high profile incidents of disruption of voting processes through the abuse of the power of incumbency in some states  such as Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos and Rivers, where huge supporters escorted politicians to the polling units  where huge supporters escorted politicians to the polling units.

 He said the elections provided further illustration of the anti-democratic political culture of the country’s mainstream political class, through their engagement in various forms of political brigandage and their do-or-die attitude to elections.

“If the ordinary citizens are the winners of these elections, the underlying zero-sum attitude and approach of the country’s mainstream political class leaves a great deal to be desired.’’

According to Jinadu ,CDD deployed more than 35,00 field observers across the country for the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections and also set up an analysis centre to counter fake news.

He cited an example that ballot papers were insufficient in some polling units, while in others there were lack of other sensitive and non-sensitive materials, such as indelible ink, ballots, or result sheets.

Jinadu said that adequate security personnel were generally deployed for duty in many polling units but that there were instances of disruption such as in Lagos and Imo, where no security agent was either present or able to protect electoral officials and voters.

He said that on Election Day, Nigerians woke to the news that there had been bomb blast and the insecurity situation led to the relocation of voters from Gujba to Damaturu to cast their votes, and that similarly, voters in Madagali were also relocated to a safe location in Adamawa to cast their votes.

Jinadu said that the analysis centre noted with dismay the violence that marred the polls in some areas in Lagos, Ebonyi, Imo, Rivers, Osun, Oyo, Delta, Kogi and Akwa Ibom.

He said elections provided further illustration of the anti-democratic political culture of the country’s mainstream political class, through their engagement in various forms of political brigandage and their do-or-die attitude to elections.

He said that smart card readers remained one of the most vital integrity checks of elections in Nigeria, though some failed but generally most of them worked well .

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