…condemns attack on journalists
By Michael Oche
Election observer group, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to take proactive actions that will boost the credibility of the just concluded governorship and State Assembly elections.
The CTA in a statement issued on Monday said urged the electoral body review results were necessary and put measures in place to mitigate attempts by enemies of credible elections to truncate our democracy.
The statement signed by CTA Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi also commended the INEC for correcting the anomaly experienced in the presidential election especially the non-upload of results in real time.
She said, “Collation of results have been concluded in some states and some candidates already returned by INEC. We noted that some political party agents protested against some of the results announced as they claimed that the results on the IReV did not tally with the results collated and announced. The agents were however advised to put their claims in writing and submit or seek remedy in the courts. It is also interesting to note that INEC said that they will review some results especially in Abia State.
“We note with interest the emergence of young persons in elective positions from the results released so far. This is highly commendable. Furthermore, every result posted and announced by INEC should be sacrosanct. Therefore, INEC must be responsible for its actions and the results declared.”
Nwadishi expressed disappointment with reports of manhandling and brutalization of Journalists on legitimate duties in Lagos, during the governorship election.
While condemning the attacks, she called on security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators and punish them.
She said reports from CTA observers deployed across the country showed that despite assurances from security agencies, there was widespread violence in many polling units across the country.
According to her, there are instances of thugs attacking polling officials unit in States like Ogun, Lagos, Imo, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Delta to name a few.
She said, “One of our Observers was attacked at Ward 1 Unit 9 St Paul’s Primary School, Ogbe Benin City and his phone snatched by suspected thugs. There were also reported infractions in some collation centres leading to suspension of collation activities. Our observers were not allowed to the collation into collation centres especially, Kebbi State.”
Nwadishi noted that as Nigerians patiently wait for the declaration of all the results across the country, Nigerians must shun any act that may breach the law.
