Yiaga Africa urges INEC to deliver transparent, credible Edo election

By Gabriel Ewepu

With just 48 hours to the Edo governorship election, Yiaga Africa, an election observer, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a transparent and credible election, meeting the expectations of Nigerians.

In a pre-election statement, Yiaga Africa highlighted key issues, including security volatility, distrust in state institutions, and the electoral process.

Three Critical Tests for the Election

Yiaga Africa identified three critical tests that will shape the election:

– Impartiality Test for Security Agencies: Ensuring security agencies act professionally without bias

– Resilience Test for Citizens: Encouraging citizens to turn up and resist attempts at vote-buying and intimidation

– Integrity Test for INEC: Demonstrating capacity to conduct a transparent, credible, and efficient election

Voter Registration and Engagement

Voter registration data indicates a significant increase in voter engagement, with 2,629,025 voters registered, a 19% increase from 2020. Notably, 85.57% of registered voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), indicating a high level of interest in participating in the election.

Campaign Concerns

Yiaga Africa expressed concerns over the campaigns devolving into personal attacks, hate speech, and divisive rhetoric, potentially inflaming tensions among the electorate. However, the organization hailed the peace-building efforts led by the National Peace Committee and urged parties to honor their commitments to the Peace Accord.

Voter Inducement and Election Observation

Yiaga Africa reported instances of voter inducement, with political parties distributing cash and gifts to entice voters, undermining the electoral process. To address this, Yiaga Africa will deploy 325 trained observers to monitor the election, using the Process & Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology.

Call to Action

Yiaga Africa urged voters to demonstrate resilience, resist vote-buying, and intimidation. The organization also called on INEC to:

– Demonstrate capacity for a transparent, credible, and efficient election

– Establish robust oversight mechanisms for collation officers

– Maintain consistency in applying guidelines

– Ensure proper communication with stakeholders

Security agencies were also urged to ensure professionalism, apprehend electoral offenders, and respect citizens’ rights

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