A
coalition of civil society organisations under the auspices of Democracy Watch
Nigeria has called on INEC to reject the results from areas where elections did
not hold.
The
coalition, representing various groups accredited by INEC as Observers for the
Bayelsa election, made this call on Thursday, 21st November, 2019 at a press
briefing in Abuja.
The
election monitoring group said voting did not take place in Nembe and Ekeremor
Local Government areas, including some units in Yenagoa, where violence marred
the process.
Excerpt
is the full text of the press briefing
Heads of various organizations Accredited by
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe the 16th
November 2019 Governorship election here present, Gentlemen of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning and welcome to this press briefing.
In any democratic state, the protection of
rights of citizens remains the primary function of Government. In other words,
the fundamental Human Rights as guaranteed by the 1999 constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended provides for the Freedom of Association
of every citizen. Anything short of this tantamount to a violation of the
rights of citizens. What we saw in some LGAs in Bayelsa state is an aberration
to this constitutional provision and grossly not in consonance with the
provision of the Electoral Act 2010 as Amended. We observed that elections did
not hold in some parts of Bayelsa State as it was grossly disrupted by
violence, intimidation and ballot box snatching. In some instances, there were
complete absence of voting materials and Ad hoc staff.
On Wednesday the 13th of November, 2019, a
political party was having a campaign in Nembe LGA. Some blood thirsty gun men
came to the venue and opened fire without any provocation whatsoever, killing
scores of law abiding Nigerians. Same gunmen prevented election from holding in
Nembe LGA. Till the time of this briefing, there has been no arrests, no
prosecution thus increasing the impunity associated with committing such
heinous crime as perpetrators are largely known and seen moving freely in such
communities.
In Yenagoa Ward 5, Epie 2 Ward 4, Apiffa 2 Ward
2 and Epie 3 Ward 6, elections did not hold.
Nembe LGA was the worst hit in pre election and
election related violence. Elections did not hold in Nembe LGA.
Some parts of Southern Ijaw were completely
disrupted with violence. There was no elections in Ekeremor.
We observed that in Ogbia LGA, results was
largely written in the comfort of some people’s homes.
Several communities in Bayelsa state were
sacked not due to flood or any natural disaster, but as a result of their
affiliation to a particular political party. In Bayelsa state ,we observed that
territories were already apportioned and shared as certain areas were
controlled by some militant groups. Even the military in this instance would
tell you not to get close to certain communities. Communities that were sacked
due to violence, including their various traditional rulers and kings who were
living mostly in Yanegoa town as IDPs could not exercise their franchise.
There is a disconnect of the security
architecture of the 2019 Governorship election in Bayelsa state and the reality
on ground as observed by our coalition as violent crime, conspiracy to sabotage
the nation state of Nigeria was displayed without recourse to laws of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria nor the Fundamental Human Rights of citizens.
Inspite of this reoccurring decimal of violent
crimes in parts of the state, the police as the lead agency for internal
security has not provided the armed personnel within few perimeters from the
polling units and points as propose. This has further increased the snatching
of ballot boxes across the state.
The posting of police personnel for the 2019
General election had the mobile phone numbers of these officers and men
attached to various polling units and polling points for easy access and
communication. We observed that this was completely absent in the Bayelsa State
Governorship election.
Again, we observed with dismay the refusal and
sabotage of the members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who
collectively refused to convey INEC sensitive materials to the jetty where the
military and their several Gun-Boats were already waiting for conveyance.
Some highly placed individuals were seen moving
with several escorts of military and police personnel when on normal
circumstance, the securities of such persons ought to have been withdrawn until
after the duration of the election.
In furtherance with the enabling laws as
Non-Governmental and Non-Partisan organizations, it is our collective
determination to ensure that politicians who sponsor, fund, aide or abate
violence would be made to face the full wrath of the law. We would report
perpetrators of such crimes to various embassies of the world so that travel
bans would be issued on them and their families. The embassies are already
considering that.
Finally, in line with ensuring a transparent,
free, fair and credible elections, we call on the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) to probe results that were accepted, collated and
announced even when elections never held in such areas. The acceptance of
results emanating from areas where snatching of ballot boxes and violent crimes
occurred should be probed by the commission. It is evident that election
processes that is not in consistence with the provisions of the Electoral Act
2010 As Amended dominated parts of Bayelsa State Governorship election of 16th
November, 2019.
Consequently, INEC should not just stop at
taking measures to build electorates confidence in our electoral system, but
should be seen to be doing so while the commission remains apolitical.
Thank you.
Signed:
(1) S. B Bafunsho
Organization of Justice for Equity Sustenance
(2) Dr. Isaac Onyike
Centre for Strategic Conflict Management.
(3) Comrade Peter Nwokolo
Citizens Rights & Leadership Awareness
Initiative.
(4) Sandra Osunde
Global Policy Advocacy & Leadership
Initiative
(5) Dr. Nwambu Gabriel,
For the coalition
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