By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
Worried by the challenges witnessed at some polling units in the ongoing gubernatorial elections in Kogi, Beyelsa and Imo states, Yiaga Africa Watching The Vote (WTV) has called on INEC to suspend elections in polling units/LGAs with reported incidents of pre-filled results forms.
It said the commission to also arrest, investigate and prosecute the individuals responsible for electoral offence.
Yiaga Africa made the call during its mid-day situational statement on the 2023 off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
It called on INEC to extend the voting time, especially in Imo and Bayelsa states where the voting commenced late to ensure voters have an equitable opportunity to vote.
“Yiaga Africa calls on INEC to provide an update on when voters in locations where elections are yet to commence will vote, especially polling units affected by the late arrival of polling officials or materials destroyed due to the boat mishap in Southern Ijaw and those carted away during the abduction of INEC SPO in Sagbama LGA. And also the location where result sheets were pre-filled before voting in Ogori Mangogo and Okehi LGAs in Kogi State, respectively.
“Yiaga Africa calls on INEC and security agencies to uphold the transparency of the results collation process by complying with guidelines on results management and ensuring accredited election observers, media and party agents are present at all levels of result collation.
“Yiaga Africa calls on INEC to cancel elections in polling units where manual accreditation was recorded.
“We urge the voters to remain patient and peaceful through the voting and counting process. Yiaga Africa will provide updates as the voting process comes to an end and the results collation commences. At the end of the election, Yiaga Africa will provide statistically representative information about the conduct of the election. “