Skip to main content

Election observers tell INEC to cancel Bayelsa election

The Coalition of Civil Society Election Observer Groups has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the results of the Nov. 16 governorship poll in Bayelsa and conduct a fresh election.

The coalition Co-ordinator, Mr Olufemi Lawson, made the call at a news conference in Lagos.

INEC issued Chief David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) a certificate of return on Thursday after he emerged winner of the election with 352,552 votes.

Lawson said the result should not be allowed to stand as it did not reflect the choice of Bayelsans.

He said reports by the coalition, comprising civil society groups which monitored the election and some other local and international observers, indicated that the election was not credible as it was characterised by irregularities.


The coordinator said there were many proven cases of violence during the election as well as many cases of ballot snatching and stuffing.

Lawson also said that there were widespread incidents of vote-buying during the election, adding that many residents were disenfranchised as a result of flooding in some communities.

Lawson said security agencies did not perform their expected responsibility to ensure the election was peaceful.

”We are miffed at the inability and failure of security agencies to intervene or try to stop hoodlums from perpetrating violence, especially in the snatching of ballot boxes and disruption of collation process at the polling units.

”The result of the election cannot be said to represent the aspirations of the genuine voters in the state and we, therefore, call for the cancellation of the results of the governorship election.

”We are sad that till this moment, not a single perpetrator or sponsor of the violence which characterised the election has been arrested, despite the huge damages, including the loss of lives experienced.

"We are also calling on all partners, particularly the international community to consider appropriate sanctions, including visa ban, for the perpetrators of violence in the elections and their sponsors,” he said.

Also speaking. Deputy President, Campaign for Democracy (CD), Mr Isreal Babatunde, said the conduct of Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections left much to be desired, NAN reports.

He said both elections were highly militarised and were marked by malpractices.

Babatunde said the governorship election in Bayelsa greatly fell short of democratic standards, adding that the result did not reflect the wish of the people.

”We are therefore calling for the cancellation of the election as the result did not reflect the wish of Bayelsans,” he said.

He said the conduct of both Kogi and Bayelsa elections should compel the need to reform the country’s electoral system for better polls.

Babatunde added that if what happened during both elections was anything to go by, INEC might not deliver credible elections in 2023.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vulvar Care Tips

Vulva Care Maintaining a healthy vulva and vagina will help prevent infections and discomfort. Unusual changes in vaginal discharge is a sign that there might be an issue. Why is vulvar and vagina care important? Many women experience uncomfortable, vaginal infections (vaginitis) at one time or another. The area around the entrance to the vagina (vulva) can also become irritated. Steps can be taken to relieve and prevent vulvar discomfort and vaginal infections. Not all vaginal infections are alike and home treatments can worsen some types. If you have any concerns about your vulvar or vaginal health, or notice unusual changes in vaginal discharge, contact your healthcare provider if the problem persists. What is the vulva? The vulva is the area of female sex organs that lies outside of the vagina. These organs include folds of sensitive tissue called the labia (labia means "lips"). The labia has two parts. The outermost folds are called the labia majora. A secon...
Post a Comment
Read more

CJN Tanko unveils panel to hear Atiku’s appeal against Buhari

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed is presiding over the 7-man panel that will hear the appeals filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the February 23 poll. Other members of the panel are Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Amiru Sanusi, Uwani Abaji, Ejembi Eko, John Inyang Okoro and Olukayode Ariwoola. Atiku and his party are challenging the September 11 judgment of the Justice Mohammed Garba-led Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal which affirmed President Buhari’s victory at the polls. The appeals hearing has generated some controversies especially due to the silence of the Supreme Court on the justices that would constitute the panel, with the Coalition of United Progressives Party (CUPP) demanding the use of seniority in selecting them. A senior member of Atiku’s legal team, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), told reporters that they considered it strange that as at ...
Post a Comment
Read more

NNL: Sanni dumps Saraki Boys

Tunde Sanni, head coach of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC of Ilorin has resigned, Coordinator of the team, Idris Musa, said on Monday. Musa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin that Sanni had turned in his resignation letter later after a meeting with the team’s Director of Football, Alloy Chukwuemeka. After the meeting, Chukwuemeka and Sanni refused to comment on the matter. The club’s U-15 coach, Taofeeq Babatunde, has been drafted to assist the Assistant Coach, Suleiman Quadri, pending when a substantive manager will be appointed. His resignation may be due to recent results, which were not in favour of the Saraki Boys. The team lost to Kebbi United 3-2 on penalties after 1-1 draw during regulation time in the round of 64 encounter of the Aiteo Cup in Minna. The Saraki Boys also lost 3-0 to Mighty Jets of Jos and drew 0-0 with the Jos-based side in the return leg on Wednesday in Ilorin at Bet9ja Nigeria National League’s (NNL), Match Day 10 encounter. ...
Post a Comment
Read more