The European Union Observation
Mission to Nigeria (EOM) says Nigerian soldiers barred them from monitoring
elections in Rivers state.
The observers made the allegation
in their preliminary report released in Abuja on Monday.
While addressing journalists,
Maria Arena, the chief observer, said they came to Nigeria on the invitation of
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor the elections
and make recommendations.
She faulted the election exercise
saying they were denied access to the collation centres.
She also decried the violence,
underage voting, and vote-buying, which she claimed marred the governorship and
house of assembly elections in some states.
“Observers, including EU
observers, were denied access to collation centres in Rivers, apparently by
military personnel,” she said.
“This lack of access for
observers compromises transparency and trust in the process.
“In Rivers, INEC suspended, until
further notice, the elections due to violence in polling units and collation
centres, staff being taken hostage and election materials, including results
sheets, seized or destroyed by unauthorised persons.
“There is no doubt that the
electoral process there was severely compromised.”
She noted that the EU deployed 73
observers to monitor voting, counting and the collation of results in 22
states.
The chief observer said they
monitored 223 polling units across 81 collation centres.
“Most polling units visited
opened on time or less than 30 minutes late, and the procedures for the accreditation
of voters were significantly improved,” EOM added.
“The counting of ballots was
overall transparent. Positively, in almost all cases, party agents received
copies of the results forms. The EU EOM also presented its assessment of the
collation process for the presidential and National Assembly results.
“It concluded that inconsistent
numbers, lack of clear checks and explanations, and insufficient public
information undermined confidence in the integrity of process”.
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make wona go sit down if you cannot mention the polling unit wey rigging dey , na banza noise you dey make,,, 4 plus 4 nobe 8 which yeye monitor you wan monitor
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