Address
by Mr. Abiodun Ajijola, National Coordinator Election Monitor on the occasion
of the public presentation of the 2016 Edo State Governorship Election
Observation and Research Guide at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja on the 1st
September 2016.
It is
with profound gratitude to Almighty God that I make this address. I wish to
recognize all dignitaries and speakers that have taken out of their busy
schedules to grace this occasion. I also thank all participants who have put
aside one thing or the other to attend this event. For all those who came from
outside Abuja, I am especially grateful. A special thanks to the
Election Monitor team which has worked assiduously to make this happen.
As
Nigeria prepares for another round of critical elections in Edo and Ondo States
it is pertinent that all efforts are put on deck to make these elections better
than previous elections. It is hoped that many lessons should have be learnt
from the plethora of conducted elections in the past one year and the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is encouraged to ensure that
it makes every effort to implement recommendations arising from these
elections.
Some
areas of key importance for INEC are as follows:
·
Ensuring
consistent adherence to its guidelines on use of card readers. Manual
accreditation should not be permitted.
·
All
polling officers using card readers should be effectively and properly trained.
·
Logistics
should be well addressed to ensure early arrival of electoral materials.
·
Education
of the electorate of the effects of non-representation stemming from electoral
violence.
·
Improvement
of communication strategy especially through the media (traditional and social
media).
·
Effective
sanctions for political office holders and other highly placed individuals
involved in Electoral violence. At least handing them over to the police for
prosecution.
·
Simultaneous accreditation and voting guidelines
modification
o
Simultaneous
definition –
o
1: existing or occurring at the same time: exactly coincident
o
2: satisfied by the same values of the variables
<simultaneous equations
o
For
simultaneous accreditation and voting,
o
Total Accreditation = Total Votes Cast
o
It is
recommended that the guidelines can be modified to reflect that any polling
unit where there is a difference in these two figures, the presiding officer
should make a written explanation as to why it is so.
o
If not
defendable such polling unit should be cancelled because the approved
guidelines and procedures for simultaneous accreditation and voting were not
followed.
Media
reports indicate that the Nigeria Police will deploy 23,000 officers for the Edo Governorship Election which is a
welcome development. The key issue is not only the number of security personnel
but also the impartiality and professional conduct of the officers while on
electoral duty (welfare of the security agents is also key). However there is a
need for INEC to appeal to the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria to intervene by providing very clear consequences
for security operatives who are partisan and work against the conduct of
peaceful elections irrespective of political affiliations. This is key because
much of what is happening in some states where insecurity has not allowed the
conclusion of the conduct of elections is a show of force of different
political actors who have influence over security in different ways.
INEC
needs to continue its development of the Nigerian electoral process by ensuring
that it successfully achieves success in all areas within its control and
appeals for support and/or intervention in areas outside its control.
Election
Monitor's mission is to promote transparent electoral processes in Africa.
In line
with this mission, Election Monitor has prepared this document to provide
readers with some quality information that can enable them better understand
and follow the 2016 Edo State Governorship Election. Election Monitor has
prepared such documents in the past for previous elections. The three documents
which make up this Observation and Research Guide are as follows:
1. The Research Guide
2. Governorship Election Update
3. SWOT Analysis of the Candidates
The
Election Monitor Pre-Election Research Guide is a document
with a robust database of articles which have been digitised and
indexed. These articles span from September 2014 to June 2016.
They cover topics relating to the political developments in Edo state.
It is our opinion that this database would serve as a very useful tool for
observers of the electoral process especially domestic and international
election observers and journalists who may need information on detailed current
developments in the state to enable better pre-election observations.
The Pre-Election
Update is a document prepared to provide readers with basic background
information about Edo state, which would provide a good
foundation for understanding and following the forthcoming election.
This SWOT
Analysis of the candidates is prepared to provide a comparative
analysis of the leading candidates of the 2016 Edo State Governorship Election.
The methodology used for the comparison is the SWOT Analysis tool.
It is
important to state that this publication is unbiased and not prepared in favour
of any candidate or party. The cost of preparing this document was borne by
Election Monitor.
It is the
intention of Election Monitor that this document will support the efforts of
information sharing and strengthening the quality of observation of the Nigerian
electoral process.
Today we
are publically presenting this unique tool with the belief that our efforts
will ensure that adequate and proper observation of the 2016 Edo State election
is achieved. For the sake of our nation and our unborn generations, it is
pertinent that every stakeholder especially election observers support INEC to
ensure that the 2016 Edo Governorship Election is transparent, free, fair,
credible and hopefully conclusive on the first ballot.
Thank you
all once again for attending this landmark event. I wish us all successful,
impactful and fruitful deliberations. God Bless the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
That is so nice of you to share the detailed agenda of the address. The president has been working hard for the benefit of people of Nigeria.
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