The Nigerian Bar Association Election Working Group (NBA-EWG) and over 40 observer groups have deplored the Edo State governorship elections held on September 21, 2024 saying the exercise was characterised by electoral malfeasance.
Accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe the elections, the NBA deployed observers to various polling units across Edo State.
They included representatives from the five NBA branches in the state—Benin, Auchi, Igarra, Uromi, and Ekpoma.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission had on Sunday, September 22, declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Monday Okpebholo as winner of the poll.
According to the INEC, Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat his closest challenger and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Asue Ighodalo, who scored 247, 274 votes.
The candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Olumide Akpata, was the second runner-up with 22,763 votes.
Commenting on the outcome of the election, the NBA in its report jointly signed the leader of NBA’s election monitoring team, Bolatumi Animashaun and the general secretary, Mobolaji Ojibara, said the poll was marred by vote-buying, logistical delays, low voter turnout.
On the alleged vote buying, the report said the monitoring team observed instances of vote buying at polling units.
“Several attempts were observed where political party agents discreetly tried to influence voters with monetary incentives.
“The low voter turnout, the influence of money, and delays in the distribution of election materials were notable concerns.
“However, the conduct of voters, election officials, and security personnel was commendable, contributing to a largely peaceful election process,” it said.
It expressed worry that despite efforts to prevent the menace, money continued to influence fairness and transparency in Nigeria’s elections.
The report also noted that voting materials and officials arrived late in many polling units, particularly within Benin City.
“It was observed that these delays were caused by logistics challenges that hindered the smooth commencement of the voting process,” it said.
“In Egor Ward I, Polling Unit 30, for instance, there were no election materials or INEC officials at all, effectively preventing any voting activity from taking place in this polling unit.
“This lack of preparedness in certain areas is a serious issue that needs to be addressed to ensure elections run smoothly,” the NBA said.
The NBA also stated that there was voter apathy in the election.
It said the number of voters who turned out at polling units during the election was “notably low”, considering the number of registered voters.
“In polling Unit 10, Ward 4, out of 1,026 registered voters, only 10 were accredited,” it said.
The report also noted that some physically challenged persons defied the odds such as the heavy rainfall to cast their votes.
“Despite a heavy downpour of rain during the election, these individuals remained resilient and waited patiently to exercise their civic duty.
“The turnout of physically challenged voters was particularly commendable, as they were given priority treatment at the polling stations, ensuring they could vote with ease,” it said.
The NBA also said that although the biometric voter accreditation system devices functioned effectively in most polling units, the team recorded technical hitches in some areas.
“For instance, in Ward 7, Polling Unit 18, Ugbekwe LGA, an ad hoc official of INEC reported that the BVAS device displayed the message ‘No Election Ongoing’ despite the voting process being in progress already,” it said.
The NBA said it equally observed that heavy deployment of security operatives during the election helped in “maintaining order and ensuring that potential security threats were mitigated.
“Even though, there were shootings in Oliha, Ward Two, which hosts five polling units in Egor Local Council Area.”
However, it stated that “the NBA-EWG observed that the 2024 Edo state governorship election was generally orderly.”
The report added that further observations showed that the number of male voters exceeded that of female voters.
In its recommendations, the NBA stated that INEC should prioritise the timely deployment of election materials and personnel to avoid delays in subsequent elections.
“There is a need for intensified voter education campaigns to restore public trust in the electoral process and encourage greater voter participation, especially among women and youth.
“Stronger measures must be implemented to prevent political parties from using money to influence voters.
“This includes stricter monitoring at polling units and more transparent processes to safeguard the integrity of the electoral system,” it added.
Similarly, some 25 observer groups said the exercise fell short of expectations adding that the collation of results at some levels did not comply with the Electoral Act, 2022.
A statement by Mrs. Rose Akhigbe, Messrs Peter Nwokolo, Anyasor Gabriel, and Sunny Elekwa, on behalf of the observer groups, said they were satisfied with the more than 4,500 polling units’ results at the election.
The rejected the collation of ward and local government results at the INEC state collation centre in Benin City, saying it is contrary to the law.
“We reject the result declared because there are two sets of result sheets. One was taken to the field and another one to APC in Edo North, some parts of Edo South and Edo Central.
“We also observed that the military and police disrupted collation of results at the wards and local government collation centres, including intimidation of INEC officials that collated results, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines. There is significant concern about the credibility of the results collation process.
“We totally reject the result of the election, which declared the All Progressive Congress APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. There was militarisation and use of impunity at wards, local governments and state collation centres.
“INEC, military and police have clearly violated the provisions of Electoral Act 2022 concerning the collation of results in governorship election. Results were only collated at units and some wards.”
Still on the poll, about 30 other civil society organisations under the aegis of Citizens Memorandum for Electoral Reforms handed in 37 draft electoral recommendations to the national assembly to help in the review of the 2022 amended electoral laws.
The group stated this at a press conference addressed by the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) ElectHER, International Press Centre (IPC), International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), and Justice, Development and Peace Makers Centre (JDPMC), Osogbo.
Others were Justice Development and Peace Movement (JDPM), Oyo; Justice Development and Peace Initiative (JDPI), Ekiti; The Kukah Centre; Nigeria Women’s Trust Fund (NWTF); Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); SOS Children’s Villages (SOS); TAF African; and Yiaga Africa.
The CSOs said Nigeria was at a crossroads and needed a quick electoral reform to address issues arising from the elections.
“The proposals encapsulated in this memorandum stem from a comprehensive analysis of the pressing challenges that have plagued our electoral system for too long. They are the product of extensive research, input from key stakeholders, and, importantly, the reflections drawn from our experiences during the 2023 general elections.
“We have also incorporated valuable recommendations from domestic and international election observers, who have called attention to areas requiring urgent reform if we are to restore public trust in our democratic institutions.
“As the national assembly embarks on yet another round of electoral reforms, we present this Citizens Memorandum for Electoral Reforms as a crucial resource, which serves as a roadmap designed to guide lawmakers and all election stakeholders through priority areas in need of immediate attention.
“These amendments are strategic in their scope and assess, ambitious in their vision, yet they are also rooted in practicality, responding to the realities of our current electoral system,”
The groups said the memorandum focused on “three core pillars of the electoral legal framework for the conduct of elections: the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Elections.
“These proposals address the inadequacies, complexities, and ambiguities that have hindered the efficient application of the Act. Our aim is to reposition the electoral legal framework against the backdrop of recent landmark judicial decisions that offer pathways for reform and to make the Act more reflective of our evolving electoral needs,” the report said.
The CSOs identified the priority areas for reform to include INEC’s independence, efficiency and professionalism; unbundling of INEC; electoral offences; election adjudication; diaspora or out-of-country voting; special seats; political party reform; constituency delimitation; voter accreditation; voter register and voter registration; women, youths and PWDs political participation (inclusivity); early voting; candidate selection; electoral technology; result management process; and media.
“Proposals for the alteration of the constitution are tailored towards achieving improved independence and professionalism of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to ensure credible elections and inspire public trust in the electoral process.
“This memorandum seeks a review of the process of appointments into INEC; professionalisation of INEC appointments; introduction of timelines for INEC appointments; a review of the mode of appointments into state independent electoral commission (SIEC); introduction of timelines for appointment in SIECs; strengthening the criteria for membership of SIECs,” they said
Other issues bordered on, “Safeguarding the operational autonomy of SIECs; a review of the appointment and discipline of resident electoral commissioners (RECs); strengthening the financial autonomy of SIECs; redefining the power and functions of SIECs; unbundling the INEC; establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission; and limiting the exercise of the power of nolle prosequi by the Attorney General, among others.”
