Bayelsa, Kogi guber: Elections peaceful but marred with irregularities, malpractices-GEW NWTF

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The Gender and Election Watch Room of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund said that Saturday’s off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi states, were relatively peaceful but marred with pockets of irregularities and malpractices. 

The Chief Executive Officer of NWTF, Brenda Anugwom, disclosed this in its recent pre-election reports. 

Anugwom said NWTF deployed 100 accredited observers to monitor the polls. 

She noted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, worked optimally across polling units in the two states except in some cases where it malfunctioned. 

According to her, voter turnout was relatively poor during the gubernatorial elections due to a lack of trust in the polls. 

NWTF observed that the conduct of women at the polls was impressive as they turned out early but in low numbers.

Anugwom added that the cases of vote-buying, voters’ intimidation, and denial of access to polling units marred both Bayelsa and Kogi states elections.

“This was reported across all Local Government Areas observed; for instance, in Imiringi Town hall PU 016, Ogbia Local Government Area voters were seen entering the town hall upon casting their votes to receive a monetary sum, Bassambiri Mein Polo Tiri, and Ward 10 PU 002 Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. In Ward 5 PU 002 Nembe Local Government Area, some culprits perpetrating vote buying were arrested”.

It stated the same observation in some areas in Kogi state: “For instance, in Imiringi Town hall PU 016, Ogbia Local Government Area voters were seen entering the town hall upon casting their votes to receive a monetary sum, Bassambiri Mein Polo Tiri, and Ward 10 PU 002 Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. In Ward 5 PU 002 Nembe Local Government Area, some culprits perpetrating vote buying were arrested.

Meanwhile, the group recommended that “The level of preparedness and conduct of polls by INEC should be consistent to ensure that there is continuous and significant improvement with regards to logistics and opening of polls; That INEC should invoke the spirit of the new Electoral Law against vote buyers and sellers by arresting and prosecuting offenders to improve the electoral system; That INEC continues to improve on its planning around accessibility for pregnant women, nursing mothers, the elderly and Persons with Disabilities”.

Newshpere recalls that INEC declared Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party and Ahmed Usman-Ododo of the All Progressives Party winners of the Bayelsa and Kogi state elections. 

 

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