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Africa Policy E-JournalNigeria: Election Monitoring Report +++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++ Region: West Africa +++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Preliminary Report
For more information: CLEEN is a non governmental organisation that works for the re-orientation of law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, especially the police and prisons services, with a value system that places highest premium on right to life, security of persons, physical and psychological integrity; as well as educate civil society in Nigeria on its basic rights in relation to these agencies. Our mandate is pursued through research and publication, human rights education and community empowerment programmes.
Introduction This is a preliminary report issued by the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), a coalition of 44 human rights organizations that monitored the local council elections held in Nigeria on Saturday, December 5, 1998. The TMG's report is based on our observations of the polling in various constituencies across the country. The observation covered all six zones of the country: South East, South South, South West, North East, North Central, and North West. TMG was formally accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor the elections nationwide. TMG deployed over 1,000 observers to monitor the elections nationwide. These were made up of 326 observers from within member organizations of the TMG accredited by INEC and other observers recruited by the TMG. A final report will be issued before the next elections scheduled for January 9, 1999. a. State of Preparedness of INEC There were complaints of serious administrative lapses by INEC in its preparations for the elections. Some of these lapses include: Lack of Electoral Materials In some polling stations, there were reports of lack of electoral materials, ballot papers, boxes, forms, etc. This affected voting. b. Insufficient Training of Electoral Officials Numerous electoral officials did not seem to have sufficient skills or knowledge to enable them tackle problems or complaints arising from the voting process. In some cases, party agents and independent observers were being relied on to resolve confusing situations and voters protests and complaints. Mix up in Voters Registers In some constituencies, the voters register was muddled up. Registers meant for particular wards or constituencies were taken to different areas thus disenfranchising voters who had turned up to vote. In other instances, peoples names were simply missing from the voters register. c. Lateness of Officials There were several reports of officials reporting late for electoral duties, meaning that in several cases, voting did not begin early. In some cases where accreditation began late, voters were turned back once it was 11 am and in spite of the fact that INEC officials had not completed accrediting every person that was on queue. The problem of transportation and the biting fuel crisis accounted to some extent for the lateness of officials. d. Lack of Privacy in the Voting There was the problem of lack of privacy and confidentiality in the voting process, so that voters balloting was apparent to onlookers, and not sufficient security was provided for ballot boxes. e. Lack of Civic Education There was widespread lack of awareness among voters on how to vote, thumb print or even identify the parties and the candidates of their choice. In some cases, voters did not understand that they should thumb print the ballot papers before inserting them into the boxes. In other cases, ballot boxes were invalidated because voters thumb printed in between the boxes of the parties. In a few other cases, voters did not understand the difference between accreditation and actual voting. Some left after accreditation believing that they had actually voted. 2. Other Logistical Problems Transportation was one major problem that affected the conduct of the elections. Due to lack of transportation, electoral officers in some instances did not arrive at the polling centers in time. For the same reason, in other instances, voting materials did not get to polling centers in time. As a result, there were delays in the commencement of voting. This problem also compelled electoral officers to walk distances to pick up materials and return to their polling centers. 3. Security Situation/Electoral Violence The elections were reasonably peaceful, except for isolated cases of electoral violence leading to intimidation of voters by party faithful, and, in some cases, death. Law enforcement agents deployed to voting centers were reportedly civil. It was observed that the number of law enforcement agents deployed for the exercise was inadequate. However, many of the law enforcement agents deployed for the exercise were ignorant of INEC guidelines on their role in the voting exercise, especially the requirement that they should stay behind the last prospective voter on the queue. In Awka, the Anambra State capital, one person was confirmed dead in a shootout involving a convoy of an APP candidate patrolling polling areas in the city. In Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State (Buguma City), youths dressed in black used acid to destroy polling materials and took them away thereby ensuring that no elections were held in the area. In Ward 9 of the same local government, party agents brought thugs who were shooting in the air and scaring people away. Some people also sustained knife cuts. In Akwa Ibom State, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Oron Division was killed by rioters protesting the conduct of the council elections in the area. 4. Conduct of the Political Parties The party agents who were at the polling centers generally conducted themselves well. There were however reported cases of improper and, sometimes, violent behavior. From Ibadan North Local Government Ward 5 in Oyo State, it was reported that a fake voter's card was found on a party agent at a polling Centre. From Sokoto State cases of rival party supporters going to polling centers with local weapons were also reported. There was also reports of rival parties clashing in Awka, Anambra State. 5. Electoral Malpractices Some electoral malpractices were reported. From Bayelsa State, for instance, the uses of some of the missing voters' cards by strange persons were seen. This resulted in multiple voting particularly in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Also, observers in Bayelsa State were satisfied that some of the voters who turned up were clearly underage. Yet another irregularity was the failure of electoral officers to ensure that voters had enough space to cast their vote in secret. There were, in several cases, no space as a result of which voters thumb printed the ballot papers within sight of the other voters and electoral officers. 6. Conclusion Despite lapses in the preparations by INEC and a few electoral malpractice recorded in some centres across the country, the elections were credible. Voter turnout was reasonably impressive compared to the turnout in elections in the recent past. The elections were largely peaceful and free of rancour in many voting centers across the country. However, some isolated cases of violence were reported in states like Oyo, Anambra, Lagos, Ondo and Ekiti. 7. Recommendations
Clement Nwankwo Chair, TMG Coordinating Committee (This report is issued by Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), a coalition of forty five human rights organizations working to monitor the transition to civil rule programme of the military government of General Abdulsalam Abubakar). COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE TRANSITION MONITORING GROUP 1. Constitutional Rights Project (CRP) 2. C ivil Liberties Organisation CLO 3. Centre for Law Enforcement Education 4. Media Rights Agenda 5. Community Action For Popular Participation NUJ Secretariat 6. Centre for Human Rights Research and Development 7. African Centre for Democratic Governance 8. The Institute For Social Sciences and Administration Ibadan 9. Network For Justice 10. Social Advocacy Group 11. African Peace Initiative 12. Safe Environment Action 13. Women for Democracy and Leadership 14. Justice, Development and Peace Commission 15. Human Rights Legal Services(HURILAWS) 16. Human Rights Monitor 1A Junction Road P.O.Box 1584, Kaduna 17. Women's Consortium of Nigeria 18. Society for the Welfare of Women Prisoners 19. Civil Rights Concerns 20. Basic Rights Group 21. Global Vision 8, Adeniyi Street Onipanu, Lagos 22. CEMERDEV 23. Centre for Responsive Politics 24.Centre for Media Studies 25. Medical Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims 26. People Against Drug Dependency Ignorance (PADDI) 27. Gender and Development Action 28. United Action for Democracy c/o Civil Liberties Organisation 29. Women Justice Programme 30. Shelter Rights Initiative 31. Centre for Free Speech 32. Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law 33. AFRONET, Lagos 34. Amnesty International-Nigeria 35. Legal Research and Resource Development Centre 36. Zee Karatu Workshop 37. Legal Defence Centre 38. The Moving Minds 39. BAOBAB For Women's Human Rights 40. Legal Watch 41. Dr. M.E. Kolagbodi Memorial Foundation 48/50 Ishaga Road 42. Labour Centre for Economic Democracy, Research & Documentation
Studies 43. Centre for Workers' Rights 44. Campaign for Workers' and Farmers' Democracy
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Africa Policy E-Journal
