POLITICS

Remain calm as INEC collate and declares results: CLEEN

Published

1 year ago

February 26, 2023

Stella Charles Akupue

Remain calm as INEC collate and declares results: CLEEN

A Civil society organization, “CLEEN Foundation”, has urged the electorate to remain peaceful

throughout the exercise ranging from voting, collation and declaration of results by the INEC.

The Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Mr Gad Peter, made the call at a media briefing in Abuja.

Remain calm as INEC collate and declares results: CLEEN

Mr Peter described the mandate of the Election Security Support Centre to observe and assess the

activities of the security agencies before, during and after the elections. Noting that, the Foundation

has deployed roving observers in the 109 Senatorial Districts nationwide.

He Maintains that Preliminary reports from the Senatorial Districts indicate that, despite some

reported delays, the elections appear to be going on according to the standards for democratic

elections to which Nigeria has committed itself. 2.0 Methodology.

Remain calm as INEC collate and declares results: CSO

In its general assessment, the Foundation said Election Security Support Centre (ESSC) has

confirmed the early commencement of the Presidential and National Assembly (NASS) elections.

However, it noted some polling units witnessed the late arrival of security personnel.

He further confirmed that Election commenced early in most polling units before 9:00 am,

still in Kogi, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu and Abia States. He indicated that in states like Delta, Ebonyi,

Imo Ondo, and some parts of Lagos, late arrival of security personnel was reported in some

polling units.

Centre for Law Enforcement Education (CLEEN)

“CLEEN observers reported that 47.1% of the security personnel in the polling units visited were on duty between 7:00 am and 8:30 am.

“Data gathered from the CLEEN ESSC show that over 80% of the polling units have at least two or more security agents. However, only one security personnel were present in 19% of the polling units.

“CLEEN Foundation ESSC observed that in almost all the polling units, security agents were wearing easily visible and identifiable name tags in compliance with the Electoral Act.

“The information from CLEEN observers indicates that most security personnel on election duty were civil and approachable.

“CLEEN Foundation observers across the states reported feeling safe and secure at the polling units.

“Most CLEEN’s observers reported that security personnel in the polling units visited acted professionally and impartially towards the voters.

“CLEEN Foundation Election Security Support Centre observed that most security personnel behaved well at the various polling units.

“CLEEN Foundation received the report of the alleged killing of a box snatcher at the Ate-iji polling unit in Anyigba, Dekina LGA.

“The CLEEN Election Security Support Centre observers reported a reportedly high voter turnout rate”.

Collation and Declaration of Results – INEC Nigeria

He added that observers deployed by CLEEN Foundation reported from polling units visited that the BVAS functioned reasonably well. Still, a BVAS machine for a different team was deployed to Polling Unit 004, Ward Dan Mangu Zodu, in Bassa LGA in Plateau State.

It added that observers in Polling Unit 012, Ilesha Ward, Baruten LGA in Kwara State, reported that the BVAS thumbprint failed to capture any registered voter at 10:50 am.

Meanwhile, the CLEEN Foundation has commended Nigerians for their peaceful conduct and turnout.

It also commended the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and, most significantly, Nigeria

Police Force and other law enforcement agencies for the professional conduct of their personnel, urging

the electorate to remain peaceful until the end of the elections after that.