By Michael Oche
Election observer group, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for initiating the process for sanctioning some of its errant election officials for misconduct in the last presidential election
The body, however, said, this is not enough, saying that it expects that more Electoral Officers and Ad hoc staff should be sanctioned.
Addressing journalists in Asaba ahead of Saturday’s governorship election across the country, CTA Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi said integrity should be the watch word for INEC staff.
“Nigerians do not expect anything less. INEC as an institution and its staff must live above board,” she said.
On logistics arrangements, Nwadishi noted that the hiccups that nearly marred the Presidential and National Assembly Elections on February 25 should not for any reason rear its ugly head during the Governorship and State Assembly Elections on Saturday.
She charged the electoral umpire to ensure that all arrangements to move personnel and materials must be topnotch.
She said, “It is important that the Electoral Officers at the LGAs be on top of their game by promptly mobilizing members of the NURTW to move personnel and materials to polling units in good time.”
She said the level of electoral violence and voter suppression noticed in the last presidential election left a sore taste in our electoral bud.
According to her, it was appalling to see thugs having free rein, destroying voting materials and harassing of citizens at polling units.
She, however, urged citizens to come out en masse on Saturday because the Gubernatorial and Houses of Assembly elections very important.
She said, “Voter turnout was noticeably high, but voter suppression is implicated in the final outcome for the reported number of voters. We consider the Gubernatorial and Houses of Assembly elections very important; hence we implore citizens to take it very seriously.
“We call on citizens to shun vote buying and trading. They should come out in their numbers to exercise their franchise.”
Nwadishi noted that the CTA is setting up its Situation Room in Asaba, considering that there will be no elections in Federal Capital Territory, adding that the group has also deployed 2000 trained election observers across the length and breadth of the country, including the 25 LGAs that make up Delta State.
The CTA boss urged the media to maintain neutrality ahead of the elections, saying this will douse the negative effects of misinformation.
She said, “Social media has no doubts made communication easy in real time, but it also has its dark sides. Fake news hatched by unscrupulous elements to distort information and create chaos are often spread through the social media.
“Before, during and after the presidential and National Assembly elections leading up to the declaration of the election results, different flyers and unsubstantiated news items were and are still being bandied about and spread across the screens .
“We appeal that this should not be reinforced by the mainstream media in any guise. Neutrality by the mainstream media is key to dousing the negative effects of misinformation.”
