CSOs Demand Independent Inquiry For 2019 Elections
BY GLORIA USMAN, ABUJA – The Nigeria Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Situation Room has called for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the 2019 Nigeria General Elections.
The Convener of the coalition of over 70 CSOs groups, Mr Clement Nwankwo, while presenting the group’s third interim report of the Governorship, State Houses of Assembly and FCT Area Council elections, said that the independent inquiry should address amongst other issues; procurement, logistics management, role of the military and abuse of process by INEC officials.
Nwankwo said the inquiry is urgently needed to identify challenges and recommendations towards repairing the damaged credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
He said that INEC should lead on this and transparently inform Nigerians where it encountered challenges as well as push for reforms in the electoral process.
Nwankwo further said that there is an immediate importance on the need for INEC to call out public institutions, individuals and events that might have undermined its ability to carry out its mandate.
According to him; “It is also important that INEC is honest in admitting its own failures; this is needed urgently in restoring faith in the election process.”
The Convener of the CSOs Situation Room frowned at alleged vote buying witnessed in Adamawa, Sokoto, Lagos, Delta, Enugu, Ekiti, Bauchi, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kwara, Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo, Kano and Osun states where between N500 and N5000 were paid to voters.
Nwankwo specifically condemned the activities of the military during the elections and the irregularities in the result collation process, adding that the spate of violence during the March 9, elections was really worrisome and called for compensation for the victims.
He said; “The number of fatalities around these elections is unacceptable. Voters and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff lost their lives, we call for reasonable packaged compensation to families of victims.”
Nwankwo also expressed concern over kidnaps, harassment and attacks and beatings of INEC officials and ad hoc staff, stressing that elections are for citizens to democratically exercise their right to choose their government and as such, no election should cause lives.
The Situation Room noted with sadness the election related violence that led to the deaths of 58 Nigerians, adding that it includes Hon Temitope Olatoye (aka Sugar) of Oyo State and Sunday Oroh in Enugu State who were shot on Saturday.
Nwankwo said; “There must be individual accountability for violence and manipulating of the election process. We cannot afford to permit this level of impunity and disruption of the elections.”
