….Says 81% of polling units had 3 electoral officials, 14.3% had 2 officials and 4.8% had less than 2 electoral officials
By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – FIDA Nigeria has released it’s interim report on findings about the ongoing Bayelsa Governorship election, saying that in 71.4 % of the polling units election materials arrived later than 9:30 am.
FIDA also stated that from reports across the polling units under it observatory indicate that 81% of polling units had 3 electoral officials, 14.3% had 2 officials and 4.8% had less than 2 electoral officials
This was contained in the interim statement released abou Bayelsa election signe by the Country Vice President/National President, Amina Agbaje (Mrs) made available to Sundiata Post in Abuja.
The statemen reads in full:
FIDA NIGERIA INTERIM STATEMENT ON THE 2023 BAYELSA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION
1.0 Introduction
FIDA Nigeria through her situation room situated at Candelux Imperial Hotel , Abuja, the Nigeria Capital is observing the participation of women and women with disabilities across the eight local government areas of Bayelsa State.
2.0 Methodology
FIDA Nigeria with support from the Canada Fund For Local Initiatives (CFLI) under the “Enhancing Women and Women with Disabilities Participation & Representation in the Political Process & Governance project” will observe the participation of NNMDAwomen and women with disabilities at the polls through 20 trained accredited stationary and roving election observers who will be deployed across the 8 Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State. An election observation tool has been developed and our approach in observation will be both qualitative and quantitative as we will leverage on partnerships with other civil society actors in documenting election incidences promoting participation of women and women with disabilities at the polls. . The following issues are highlighted as part of our preliminary report:
2.1. Commencement of Polls
Reports across the polling units across polling units under our observatory indicate that election materials arrived at 28.6% of polling units before 8.30am .However in 71.4 % of the polling units election materials arrived later than 9:30 am. For instance, Polling unit 61 Ward , 05 Okutukutu-Etegwe, Yenagoa LGA voting commenced at 8.30am, Similarly at Polling unit 04 , ward 10 Southern Ijaw LGA , electoral materials and officials were present at 8.00am . However in polling unit 21, ward 11, Ogbia Local Government Area, voting commenced by 10am
2.1. Presence of Electoral Officials
Reports across the polling units across polling units under our observatory indicate that 81% of polling units had 3 electoral officials, 14.3% had 2 officials and 4.8% had less than 2 electoral officials
2.2. Mainstreaming of Female Electoral Officials
We observed that 61.9% of polling units under our observatory had above two female electoral officials, 33.3% less than 2 female electoral officials, and 4.8% had no female electoral officials. For instance at polling unit 32, Community Primary School, ward 1, Yenagoa Local Government Area, polling unit 15, ward 11, Southern Ijaw LGA, and polling unit 21, ward 11, Ogbia LGA , two female electoral officials were observed present
2.3. Security-Related Observations
We observed that only 42.9% of the polling units visited had more than 4 security personnel, 19% had 3 security personnel, 19% had 2 security personnel, and 19% had either one or no security presence at the polling units. Females were observed being mainstreamed by relevant security agencies in the polling units visited. Statistics from the field indicate that 47.6 of polling units observed had two female security officials, while 23.8% of the polling unit had less than two female security personnel,. Furthermore, security personnel were found armed at polling units in about 4.8% of the polling units observed, however, in 95.2%, security personnel were not armed.
For example at polling unit 10, ward 04, Agboiri primary school, Yenagoa LGA, we witnessed the presence of four female security personnel manning the polling unit. A similar occurrence was witnessed at Polling unit 32, ward 01, Yenagoa LGA, Kaduna State where two security personnel were observed securing the polls. At polling unit 005, ward6, Yenagoa LGA , three security
personnel were observed securing the polls. At Polling unit 3, Ward 06, Yenagoa LGA, unarmed security personnel (6female and 2 male) were observed.
However there was no presence of security personnel at Polling unit 021, ward 11, Ogbia LGA as at 9.30am
2.4. Partiality of Electoral & Security Personnel
In 71.4% of our polling units, electoral and security personnel were observed to demonstrate some level of impartiality, however, there were some concerns of the level of partiality in about 27.6 % of polling units visited
3.0. Conclusion
FIDA Nigeria will continue to observe the elections and issue her preliminary statement on the elections to detail more on the overall participation of women and persons with disability.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Amina Agbaje (Mrs)
Country Vice President/National President
