The YIAGA Africa Watching The Vote (WTV) Group has reported cases of ballot box snatching, votes buying and other irregularities across the country in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
It also raised concerns over the arrest and detention of accredited observers in Kafanchan, Kaduna State.
The Chair, Watching The Vote Working Group, Hussaini Abdu, Co-Chair and Executive Director, YIAGA AFRICA, Samson Itodo, said this on Saturday in a press statement.
The group also said it received over 100 verified critical incident reports concerning the late opening of polls across Nigeria.
It stated that it deployed 3,906 election observers in the country.
“In Kafanchan, the YIAGA AFRICA supervisor was arrested and detained at the Kafanchan Area command in Kaduna state this was however resolved as the observer was later released.
“YIAGA AFRICA received reports from one polling unit in Yobe State, Machina Local Government Area, Damai Ward where observers were denied access to the polling unit to observe. YIAGA AFRICA is in contact with local authorities and continues to follow the situation closely.
“Election materials were reported to be snatched by unknown persons at the RAC centre in Okrika LGA, River state which led to no voting in ward 06, 07, 08 and 09 of Okrika LGA in Rivers State. This was also reported in PU 003 ward 10 Emohua LGA, Rivers state.
“Reports of vote buying in PU 010/01/10/13 Omala LGA in Kogi state,” the statement reads.
While calling for transparent results collation process, the group urged party agents to conduct themselves in orderly manner.
“INEC is encouraged to remind Resident Electoral Commissioners to instruct all election officials under their supervision to allow accredited citizen observers to access polling units in accordance with the electoral law. This includes instruction to the security personnel to allow the free movement of accredited observers.
“With the late commencement of polls, YIAGA AFRICA calls on INEC to ensure that polling officials strictly adhere to the electoral guidelines on accreditation and voting across board. This includes ensuring that there is no attempt to speed up the process of accreditation — proper application of the Smart Card Reader to accredit voters must continue throughout the country,” the statement added.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja
