Gamji, human rights commission hail INEC on credible poll

Gamji Members’ Association (GAMA), one of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Accredited Domestic Observers and the National Human Rights Commission, have commended the electoral body for conducting a peaceful, free, fair and transparent Presidential and National Assembly election.

Speaking with the media on the general conduct of the exercise in Minna, both bodies said although there were pockets of anomalies such as arrival of materials late to some polling units and the incidences of card reader malfunctioning amongst others, the exercise was general peaceful and the outcome credible.

“After preliminary assessment of the Presidential and National Assembly elections that took place on Saturday, 23rd February 2019 across the country, GAMA wishes to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the quality of its preparedness and conduct during the elections in most parts of the country,” Dr Abdullahi Bala Isa, National President/Coordinator 2019 Domestic Observation Team, Gamji Members Association said.

Accordng to him, based on field reports from its domestic observers in 26 of the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Association is satisfied with the conduct of the elections.

“There was general improvement in terms of deployment of security personnel which might have accounted for the observed reduction in security breaches in areas observed across the country. The enabling environment provided by INEC to both Domestic and International Observers is commendable.

“On this note, we wish to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the great improvement in its operations and hereby adjudge the Presidential and National Assembly Elections as being ‘free and fair’,” he noted.

He appealed to candidates of all the political parties to accept the results in good faith, while also calling on INEC to note the lapses recorded in some areas during the Presidential and National Assembly elections with a view to addressing them before the Governorship and House of Assemblies elections scheduled for 9th March.

In the same vein, the Niger state Coordinator of the Natural Human Rights Commission, Malam Nuhu Mohammed also commended INEC for rising above the challenges earlier noticed by ensuring a credible exercise.

Malam Nuhu noted that the election was peaceful and orderly across the state where the team visited but pointed out that there were the challenges of Card Reader malfunctioning, adding that despite the anomaly those whose names were on the voters register, were able to vote.

He said his team also observed that materials did not get to some polling units on time, while there was noticeable low presence of security personnel in some areas even as there were reported incidents of ballot snatching.

He called on INEC to ensure early delivery of materials; facilitate early reporting to duty on Election Day by staff; ensure proper functioning of Card Readers and deployment of adequate number of security personnel to man polling units during the next election.