APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
Yiaga Africa, a pro-election and civil society group, has said that the conduct of the election was marred by thuggery, voter suppression, electoral violence and vote-buying.
Speaking on the group’s assessment of the conduct of the election, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu of Yiaga Africa told journalists on Sunday in Abuja that the election conducted on Saturday was characterised by voter suppression, electoral violence, electoral impunity, vote-buying and capture of the results management by political thugs in Delta, Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kano, and Taraba states.
He added that the Yiaga Africa team observed the manipulation of the governorship election by agents of some of the political parties in Abia State.
For instance, Nwagwu alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agents, in connivance with security agents, entered Obingwa LGA results collation centre in Abia State, chased everyone out and compelled INEC officials to change figures in favour of their candidates.
“In Abia State, Obingwa LGA results collation centre, party agents for the PDP and security agents asked observers and other party agents, APC, Accord and APGA to exit the collation centre.
“Presiding officers were also forced to alter the figures on form EC8A in favour of the PDP,” he said.
According to him, Yiaga Africa is saddened by the cases of attacks on voters, INEC officials, election observers and personnel of the EFCC by political thugs. These stakeholders suffered grievous bodily harm and psychological trauma. Reports also indicate that at least eight fatalities were recorded within the last 24hrs”.
“These election-related deaths are unacceptable and highly condemnable. It is important for security agencies to hold the political thugs and their sponsors accountable for these deaths and attacks.
“Yiaga Africa condemns, in unequivocal terms acts of voter suppression fuelled by ethnic profiling, political thuggery and desperation to secure electoral victory at all costs. In flagrant abuse of the constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act,
“Yiaga Africa is saddened by cases of attacks of voters, INEC officials, election observers and personnel of the EFCC by political thugs.
“Reports also indicated an average of eight fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours.
“These election-related deaths are unacceptable, highly condemnable.
“It is important for security agents to hold the political thugs and their sponsors accountable for these deaths and attacks,” local media reports quoted the group as saying.
GIK/APA
Yiaga Africa says Governorship, State Assembly elections marred by violence, voter suppression
