CSOs, Observer Groups Adjudge Elections in Plateau Peaceful, Gives Pass Mark on Conduct

By Jide Afolabi, Jos

The Plateau State Civil Society Organisations and Coalition of Domestic Observers in Plateau State for the 2019 general elections have adjudged the state to be the most peaceful and orderly in Nigeria during the 2019 general elections. The body also says that there was a general improvement on the conduct of the supplementary elections compared to the previous elections held.

The group stated this during a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, press centre in Jos, the state capital on Monday however, it lamented the increasing the rate of voter apathy in the state noting that all stakeholders must embark on voters education.

In the press statement, the group said it observed in all the 40 Polling Units cutting across 9 Local Government Areas and about 12 Registration Area Centres, deploying 411 stationed observers and 47 roving observers to the three Senatorial districts.

The group said it observed early arrival of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials, sensitive and non-sensitive materials, security personnel and set-up of polling units and voting points.

The Coordinator of the group, Mr Godwin Okoko noted that the conduct of the supplementary election was generally peaceful and orderly saying that accreditation and voting commenced early while the Smart Card Readers deployed by INEC work effectively.

He stated further that there was the presence of security personnel but less armed soldiers and results were displayed at the polling units after the announcement. The body gave kudos to the electoral officers for being professional and for improved women turn out in the supplementary elections.

Okoko said that the group was concerned about the inability of the security agencies to encore the restriction order on human and vehicular movements during the election and the poor voter’s education in the state which contributed to the voter’s apathy witnessed.

The group appealed to, “all winners in the 2019 general elections especially in Plateau state to be magnanimous in victory towards ensuring a better, greater, secured, peaceful and developed Nigeria; to political parties to improve the inclusion of women in party structures and participation in party affairs and for improvement and equal opportunity for youths and persons with disabilities in party affairs; to all elected to ensure the provision of good governance and democratic dividends and to all dissatisfied with the outcome of the election results to follow legal and constitutional means to seek redress.”

The group commended, “the good people of Plateau state, residents and eligible voters for conducting themselves peacefully and orderly during the supplementary election; the Plateau state government for providing a peaceful and enabling environment for peaceful conducts of the elections.” The group also commended INEC and its officials, security agencies, foreign and domestic observers, Civil Society Organisations, political parties, and their candidates and the media for their active roles which led to peaceful elections in the state.

It recommended improvement in the general conduct of elections in Nigeria and advised INEC to improve on the Smart Card Readers and make collation centres more accessible to observers. It also recommended enhanced capacity training for INEC official, security agencies engaged in electoral processes, political parties, and their agents, and prosecution of electoral offenders among others.

The group urged the governor-elect, Rt Hon Simon Bako Lalong, “to begin the healing of the wound, closing gaps, division and polarisation through the processes reconciliation irrespective of party affiliation”. It also advised the government to make people the centre of its policy through good governance, inclusive participation, increased youth and women empowerment programmes and strengthening of community cohesion structures.