By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – YIAGA AFRICA Watching The Vote has urged Nigerians to remain peaceful while awaiting on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to announce the official results of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
The group also called on political parties and leaders to take appropriate actions against any party members to refrain from any acts or conduct capable of inciting violence.
It made the call on Sunday at its preliminary press statement held Abuja.
The group observed that despite the one week postponement of election by INEC, logistical challenges resulted in late opening of polling units throughout the country.
According to YIAGA AFRICA, polling units opened late throughout the country with polling units in the South South and South East opening later than polling units in other geopolitical zones.
”Smart Card Readers were present in 99% of polling units and were largely used throughout accreditation and voting.
However, YIAGA AFRICA expressed concern that tally sheet data gathered from its observers indicating that nearly half of voters may have voted with the Smart Card Reader authenticating only their Permanent Voters Card and not their fingerprints.
On election security, the group called on INEC nad security agencies to ensure proper security for citizens especially the polling officials and collation officials especially as results collation progresses and as INEC commences the announcement of results to ensure that no life is further lost in this elections.
It therefore expressed worry over reports of 16 polling places where no voting took place or was disrupted before it could conclude on 23 February urging INEC to clearly communicate with the public about plans to organize a second day of voting in any polling units similarly affected to ensure that all Nigerians are given an opportunity to exercise their franchise.
Sundiata Post recalls that YIAGA AFRICA Watching The Vote deployed 3,906 observers throughout the country to every state and all 774 local government areas.
This deployment will enable YIAGA AFRICA to independently verify the accuracy of the official presidential election results when they are announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The group undertakes the Watch The Vote project to provide Nigerian voters, presidential candidates, political parties, civil society and INEC with independent information about whether the official results for the 23 February 2019 presidential election truly reflects the ballots cast at polling units.
Recall that The WTVproject is “Driven by Data-For All Nigerians-Beholden to None!”
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