Election Observer calls for immediate sanctions and prosecution of all INEC officials involved in the 2019Election

Election Observer calls for immediate sanctions and prosecution of all INEC officials involved in the 2019Election

Live Stream: INEC Chairman Press Briefing On 2019 Elections

The February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections have been described by the Equity International Initiative as not free, fair and credible.

The group called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to carry out the election in all the local governments, wards and polling units where elections were cancelled.

The group also challenged the electoral body to prosecute any of its officials who were involved in compromising the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Coordinator of the group, Chris Iyama, while speaking with newsmen in Jos, stated that the organization was able to observe the election through its over eleven thousand observers spread across the country.

Iyama, who is also the Executive Director of Centre for Youth Participation, Dialogue and Advocacy (CYPA), said “Equity Election Situation Room observed lots of Irregularities and widespread Violence during the election and is disappointed with the conduct of the 2019 presidential and national assembly election despite the postponement of the election to 23rd February 2019 on grounds of logistics.”

“EII condemns the general conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections held on the 23rd of February 2019.”

“the elections were marred with irregularities, voter-intimidation by thugs and security agencies deployed to South-South, South-East, North-Central and South-West of Nigeria.”

“EII condemns the role some INEC officials played in compromising the conduct of the presidential and national assembly election and as such declare unequivocally that the 23rd of February elections was not free, fair and credible.”

“EII condemns the cancellation of votes in major polling unit across the country especially in North- Central (Plateau, Nassarawa and Benue States) and South-South which includes Rivers and the Akwa-Ibom States and some parts of South-East.”

EII also spoke against the role played by INEC returning officers in “altering and rejecting” votes.

“We condemn in strongest terms the altering of the results from different States that was finally announced by INEC in Abuja,”

“Many of the reports changed from what they were at the polling units by the time INEC was making the announcements.”

“EII calls for immediate sanctions and prosecution of all INEC officials involved in compromising the conduct of the presidential and national assembly elections.”

The group call for full adherence to INEC Election Guidelines.

“Alternative/Configuration Card Reader. The Card reader failed in so many Southern and the North Central States and all the manual voting that was carried out was eventually cancelled thereby disenfranchising eligible Nigerian voters.”

“Speedy resolution of logistical challenges, provision of adequate security and neutrality of security officials at all times.”

“INEC should call for Election in all the cancelled local governments, wards and polling unit across the country”, he maintained.”

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