IRI/NDI Election Observer Group Urges Nigerians To Address Polls Challenges

BY GLORIA USMAN, ABUJA – The Joint International Observation Mission of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI), mission has urged Nigerians to address immediate and longer-term challenges of inclusive and credible elections.

Leader of the delegation and former Vice President of Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang, who made the call at a Media briefing in Abuja on the preliminary report of the elections, also called on political parties and candidates to urgently seek redress in courts on electoral disputes.

Tambajang, who addressed a press conference in the presence of the President of NDI, Ambassador Derek Mitchell, and IRI President, Mr Daniel Twining, also called on the political parties and candidates to refrain from disseminating false information to citizens but should channel all the electoral complaints and disputes, should they arise, through established legal processes.

She also enjoined them to respect the rule of law and called on their supporters to remain peaceful before, during and after the announcement of results.

She further said; “You should reconfirm commitment to the national peace accord and existing codes of conduct by denouncing members or supporters who incite violence.”

The team leader said the group’s observers, reported cases of violence, disruption and intimidation of voters in some polling units and therefore condoled with the victims and their families.

Tambajang said the observers noted with concern numerous instances in which the secrecy of the ballot was not protected in contravention of the election procedure, stressing that some of the challenges include the non-provision of voting cubicles in most polling units.

She further said; “Moreover, party agents in many polling units observed, provided assistance to voters in violation of procedures.

“Some cases of overt vote buying, they reported that less visible forms of voter coercion may have influenced the integrity of the process.”

She said that NDI/IRI observers found that the notification to extend the hours did not reach some polling officials, adding that 40 of NDI/IRI members observer groups were deployed to the six geopolitical zones of the country.