The
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released an interim report
on the conduct of the governorship and state legislative elections across
Nigeria.
The
commission, in the report released on Sunday afternoon, stated that its
“general assessment shows that the elections went very well across the
country.”
It
however acknowledged that based on its findings, the elections were marred by
violence in some parts of the country. It listed cases of violence in its
records to include “Rivers State (16 incidents), Ondo (8), Cross River and
Ebonyi (6 each), Akwa Ibom (5) Bayelsa (4), Lagos and Kaduna (3 each), Jigawa,
Enugu, Ekiti and Osun (2 each), Katsina, Plateau, Kogi, Abia, Imo, Kano and
Ogun (1 each).”
BraveheartNija,
had reported the death of at least six persons in various violence acts in
Rivers during the elections with the state living up to pre-election
predictions of violence due to a proxy tug of war between the Peoples
Democratic Party-led presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress in the
state.
INEC
said it is “investigating these (violent) incidents and will do everything
within in its powers to bring culprits to justice.”
The
agency also admitted that its officials failed to arrive on time for elections
in at least 5 per cent of the polling units across Nigeria.
The
Independent National Electoral Commission conducted Governorship and State
Houses of Assembly elections across the country on Saturday, April 11, 2015.
Governorship elections were held in 29 States of the Federation, while State
Assembly elections were held in 36 states. No election took place in the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A
general assessment shows that the elections went very well across the country.
According to preliminary reports, 88.9 % of polling units opened for
accreditation between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. across the country. Only 5.2 % were
yet to open as of 1 pm. Also, 73 % of the polling units had commenced voting by
2.30 p.m.
The
process of accreditation with Smart Card Readers was also successful in a
majority of the polling units. Initial challenges were recorded in Edo and Abia
states, but the technical teams deployed to support the states were able to
resolve the issues in a timely manner.
Overall,
many parts of the country remained relatively peaceful during the elections.
Some states, however, recorded a significant number of violent incidents, the
most affected being Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi and Ondo States.
INEC’s
records show that there were 66 reports of violent incidents targeted at
polling units, the Commission’s officials, voters and election materials. These
were in Rivers State (16 incidents), Ondo (8), Cross River and Ebonyi (6 each),
Akwa Ibom (5) Bayelsa (4), Lagos and Kaduna (3 each), Jigawa, Enugu, Ekiti and
Osun (2 each), Katsina, Plateau, Kogi, Abia, Imo, Kano and Ogun (1 each). The
Commission is investigating these incidents and will do everything within in
its powers to bring culprits to justice.
INEC
commends Nigerians for once again demonstrating their resolve and commitment to
participate in the electoral process and by doing so, contributing to deepening
democracy in our country.
The
Commission calls on every citizen to maintain the peace as the results of the
Governorship and State Assembly elections are being processed, and to accept
the official outcomes. It would like to emphasize that winners can only emerge
after collation of the official results and on the basis of the requirements
prescribed by the legal framework. Any aggrieved persons or groups are
encouraged to seek redress at the Tribunals.
INEC
would also like to remind all stakeholders that the process is not yet
completed and urges restraint in their comments, as we strive to bring this
process to an orderly, peaceful and credible conclusion.
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