By Jennifer Y Omiloli
Foreign and Domestic Observers who monitored the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria, at a joint press conference in Uyo, have said that at least 25 Nigerians lost their lives in the election.
The media briefing was addressed by the Director General, Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, the Publicity Secretary , Pan African Women Project, Republic of South Africa, Mrs Mphoentle Keitseng and Prince Stafford J Bisong of International Leadership Initiative.
Describing the election as a rape on democracy tenets by desperate power mongers, they were totally unanimous that the election was dramatic and marred in some areas due to late arrival of election materials, Ballot snatching, absent of materials, insufficient security personnel at polling unit.
They posited that the near or complete absence of armed law enforcement agents few polls from the polling units gave room for thugs and hoodlums to snatch ballot boxes, intimidate and molest electorates and unleash and mayhem on law abiding citizens as policemen at polling units were often overwhelmed by large number of thugs.
“This we consider as saddening and alarming in a context supposedly civil and democratic. It seems to us that Nigeria is transiting backwards to the dark ages of a near anarchy situation.” Keitseng said.
“The role of the military in election and consequent rule of engagement in elections were clearly and consistently violated.
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“We observed the military in states like Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Cross River etc, order electorates, observer, and some party agents out of collation centres for the sole aim of falsification of results in favour of a preferred candidate.
“In some instances in Akwa Ibom State, Rivers, Imo, Cross River, the law enforcement agent were observed fire sporadically into the air and snatching ballot boxes away themselves.
“Again, in the full glare of the Military and the IGP squad of the Nigerian Police, hoodlums loyal to Senator Godswill Akpabio assaulted foreign and domestic observers in Ukana, Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom State, seizing and destroying their Tabs, phones and other personal effects.
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“The Smart Card Reader was not used in several polling units across the country. This was as a result of threat to life by thugs and hoodlums engaged by some desperate politicians.
“Sadly, most of the results which emanated from a process in clear violation of the provision of the Electoral Act, 2010 as Amended were collated, declared and a winner emerged.” they stated.
