YIAGA Africa and Watching The Vote Working Group, a non- governmental organisation (NGO) on Monday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to thoroughly investigate the reasons for the logistical challenges in the Toro federal constituency election and take appropriate action to avert sabotage of logistic arrangements during the 2019 general elections.
Toro is in Bauchi state.
The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa , Samson Itodo and Member ,Watching The Vote Working Group, Ezenwa Nwangwu, in a joint statement after the bye-elections in Bauchi, Katsina and Kwara state proffered that INEC needs to demonstrate commitment to the welfare of adhoc officials especially the NYSC members through early planning and adequate funding for welfare.
They also said INEC should institute an efficient mechanism to enforce and monitor the implementation of welfare plan for adhoc officials.
According to them, transparency and accountability in election security management: there’s need for greater coordination and transparency in the management of election security.
“All security agencies must uphold the principles of patriotism, neutrality, professionalism, accountability and mutual respect in election security operations.
They further said the commission needs to ensure due diligence in the recruitment of adhoc officials for elections especially Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPOs).
The group through its 14 roving observers in each local government areas alleged poor logistics management in Toro Federal Constituency of Bauchi state.
According to the group, they observed some challenges with the transportation of adhoc officials and election materials from the Registration Area Camps (RACs) to the polling units on election day resulting to late opening of polls in some of the polling units in Toro LGA in Bauchi State.
It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the weekend conducted bye-elections in three federal constituencies namely Toro Federal Constituency in Bauchi state, Irepodun/Isin/Eiti and Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in Kwara state, Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa Federal constituency in Katsina state and one state constituency in Cross River State, Ikom state constituency.
