By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – YIAGA AFRICA Watching The Vote on Friday gave reasons why it would not be verifying the March 9 (tomorrow’s) governorship election result that would take place in 29 states of the federation.
The group dropped the hint in a statement signed by Dr. Hussaini Abdu Chair, Watching The Vote Working Group and Samson Itodo Executive Director, YIAGA AFRICA, sent to Sundiata Post.
According to the statement, “For the March 9 Governorship elections, YIAGA AFRICA Watching The Vote will not be deploying the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology. As such YIAGA AFRICA will not be verifying the election day result but will be assessing the election day process at the polling units and collation centres.
It noted that “YIAGA AFRICA has deployed a total of 682 observers to observe the elections in 29 states. This comprises 642 stationary observers and 48 roving observers. YIAGA AFRICA also deployed observers to 642 LGA results collation centers and 29 state collation centers.
‘Our observers will observe the entire election day process including setup of the polling units, accreditation, voting, announcement and posting of the official results and will send in periodic reports to the Watching the Vote National Data Centre located at Floor 01, Benue/Plateau Hall, Transcorp Hilton in Abuja where they will be processed and analysed.
“This deployment will enable YIAGA AFRICA to provide the most timely and accurate information on the governorship and state assembly elections in 29 states. Matters Arising and recommendations As noted in our statement on the February 23, Presidential and National Assembly elections, the elections were characterized by similar shortcomings that marred previous national elections in Nigeria, it added.
