…Raise concerns over Wike’s actions, interference, abysmal low turnout
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre CISLAC) have raised serious concerns over widespread voter apathy, logistical failures and alleged political interference in recently conducted elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kano and Rivers States.
This was as the organisations accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of actions that undermine public confidence in the process, stressing that Wike appeared at multiple polling units across Abuja during the elections, stressing that his presence was inappropriate, particularly as he is not a registered voter in the FCT and has no constitutional role in the conduct of elections.
The civil society organisations therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that all public officials strictly adhere to the law and refrain from actions capable of eroding trust in the electoral system.
The organisations re-echoed their opposition to the movement restrictions imposed ahead of the FCT Area Council election by the FCT Minister, stressing that such measures may have contributed to low voter turnout and suppressed participation.
The TMG and CISLAC particularly said that persistent disengagement from the electoral process could erode public confidence and weaken the legitimacy of elected leaders if not urgently addressed.
The Civil Society organisations specifically warned that declining public confidence in the electoral process is dangerous for democratic governance and national stability, thus poses a growing threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
These were contained in a by Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC and Chairman of TMG, in which the groups said that even though the elections were largely peaceful in many polling units, emphasised that observers however documented significant irregularities and operational weaknesses that undermined the credibility and inclusiveness of the process.
TMG and CISLAC therefore jointly cautioned that Nigerians are increasingly losing faith in elections, stressing that when citizens stop participating, democracy becomes endangered as “election becomes selection”.
The organisations said; “When citizens no longer turn out to vote, it is no longer an election but a selection. In some locations, as few as 10 voters were recorded throughout the day. The situation is alarming and indicative of deepening voter apathy.
“There were serious accessibility challenges faced by persons with disabilities, despite assurances by the Independent National Electoral Commission that provisions had been made to accommodate all voters”.
The CSOs further said that reports from their monitoring teams, including those from TAF Africa and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, indicated that polling units in rural area councils such as Kwali and Abaji were located in places inaccessible to wheelchair users.
They also noted that assistive materials such as magnifying glasses and Braille posters were missing in more than 60 per cent of the polling units observed, thus called for a comprehensive audit of INEC’s accessibility measures to ensure inclusivity in future elections.
According to the organisations; “Logistical shortcomings were also evident, particularly within the Abuja Municipal Area Council, where delayed deployment of electoral personnel and materials caused late commencement of voting in several polling units.
“Observers equally reported confusion caused by the relocation of some polling units without adequate public communication. This may have disenfranchised voters who were unable to locate their designated voting centres.
“Incidents of vote buying were also documented in some areas, highlighting the continued vulnerability of Nigeria’s elections to monetary inducement and manipulation,” the organisations stated.
While referencing Rivers State, TMG and CISLAC noted with concern the security siege with heavy militarisation of local government areas which discouraged participation, particularly among women who traditionally form a significant portion of early voters.
The CSOs also questioned the absence of major political parties from the ballot during the bye-elections conducted by INEC in Kano and Rivers states, thus described the development as suspicious and unusual, especially in Kano, where major opposition parties have historically participated actively in elections.
TMG and CISLAC accordingly, tasked INEC to provide a clear explanation to dispel perceptions of deliberate exclusion and restore public confidence, just as they raised concerns over gender representation, citing criticism by the Centre for Information Technology and Development over the complete absence of women in the leadership of newly elected local government councils in Kano.
The CSOs said; “The outcome represents a major setback for gender inclusion and falls short of the 35 per cent affirmative action target.
TMG and CISLAC emphasised that the credibility of elections depends heavily on transparency and therefore called on INEC to ensure that collation and declaration of results are conducted with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
The organisations particularly urged security agencies to maintain strict neutrality, particularly during sensitive stages such as result collation.
The TMG and CISLAC vowed to remain committed to strengthening electoral reforms and promoting accountability in spite of the observed challenges.
They therefore tasked INEC and other stakeholders to critically address the identified shortcomings, warning that failure to do so could further weaken public confidence and undermine the integrity of future elections in Nigeria.
