The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) to the 2019 elections has said that operational shortcomings on the part of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reduced confidence in the process and put serious burden on voters during the election.
Head of the EU Mission, Maria Arena, made this known while presenting a preliminary report on the 2019 election during a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
“On election day, the majority of polling units opened extremely late, leaving voters waiting for hours uncertain of when voting would begin. The delay due to lack of materials was compounded by an absence of public information from INEC about what was happening and whether the closing time would be extended. As a result, there was confusion, some tension, and we observed that some people were put off from voting,” the EUEOM said.
The EU noted that Saturday’s rescheduled Presidential and National elections were competitive and candidates, were able to campaign freely and pointed out that the rhetoric became more accrimonous and threatening closer to election day and there were increasing number of violent incidents.
The EU noted that cases of violence in some states led to the death of approximately 20 and 35 people on election day. It also noted that at least 46 people were killed in pre-election day violence as well as several more dozen more in crowd-control incidents at rallies.
The EU also observed that the two major parties- the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) engaged in a fierce war of words using various media platforms, saying” media coverage of the campaign dominated by antagonistic commentary by the two leading parties. Consequently, with the exception of a few states, voters has limited access to diverse and facual information on which to make an informed choice,” Arena said.
The EU also observed that although INEC made effort to facilitate the collection of Permanent Voters Card(PVCs) but some logistical problems hampered collection adding that INEC did not provide public data on PVC collection until February 21.
The EU also reiterated that it has no preferred candidates or political party in the election, saying “EU observation missons have no interests in the results of an election. We have no interest in seeing this or that candidate or party win. That is up to the citizens, the voters of Nigeria. We are interested in the electoral process alone. Nothing more, nothing less.”
The EU said that by election day, it had 91 observers in all the geopolitical zones, following voting, counting and collation of results. EU observers visited 261 polling units and 94 collation centres across 31 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It said that INEC despite the challenges and complexities of security and politically -charged environment took a number of positive steps one of which is the decentralized collection points and extended the deadline for the collection of voters card. “INEC conducted very helpful daily press conferences” it said.
The EU therefore advised that ” going forward, there is a great need for more transparency and communication during the whole process, with political parties, civil society, media and most importantly citizens,” Arena said.
On the legal framework for the elections, the EUEOM said there had been positive changes to the Constitution since the last election, including reducing some of the minimum age requirement to be a candidate, meaning that a more inclusive process.
Arena praised the efforts of the civil society which contributed to election reform and awareness and scrutiny of the process, adding the EU Mission will also follow the March 9 Governorship and states houses of assembly elections before giving its comprehensive report.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
