Election: Observer group lauds INEC for smooth exercise in Nasarawa
A Coalition of Observer Groups has lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the smooth conduct of March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Nasarawa State.
Mr Messiah Nwokoma, coordinator of Vote Count Campaign Organisation and spokesperson of the coalition, read the report of the group at a press conference on Tuesday in Lafia.
He said that the governorship and state assembly in the state was an improvement of the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, with the early arrival of INEC staff at polling units with electoral materials as well as the effective use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
The coalition noted that INEC staff maintained high level of neutrality in all the polling units and local government areas their team covered.
They also commended the security agencies for their professional conducts before, during and after the election in the state.
“There was no reported cases that we are aware of, where there was brutality or intimidation of voters, party agents or candidates by the security agencies.
“Instead, there was a kind of mutual cooperation between the security personnel and the electorates at the various polling units we monitored,” he added.
Nwokoma said that the coalition observed with concern before the election, the unfortunate trend of politicians promoting religious and ethnic sentiments to mobilise voters.
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He added that the resort to religious and ethnic sentiments had created suspicion and divided the people along the fault lines.
The coalition advised the electorates to reject politicians that would want to explore religious and ethnic sentiments for their selfish interest in any future election.
The group also commended the Federal Government’s Naira redesign policy, which they believed had helped in reducing cases voters inducement.
The group further urged politicians to learn how to accept outcomes of free, fair and transparent elections rather than resort to inciting crisis.
The coalition, therefore, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election in the state.
Election: Observer group lauds INEC for smooth exercise in Nasarawa
