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PREAMBLE:
According to a Press Release by INEC on the 20th July 2018, following the notification of vacancy by the National Assembly in respect of Lokoja/Koton-Karfe federal constituency of Kogi State, INEC has scheduled bye election to fill this vacancy on Saturday 11th August 2018. Since that announcement was made participating political parties commenced their various activities ranging from party primaries, and various campaign processes. Subsequently the election was held as scheduled in all the 170 polling unit in federal constituency.
Nine political parties participated in the bye-election. They are; Accord Party, ADC, APC, DA, LP, MPN, PDP and SDP.
PREPARATORY STAGE:
The Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) Kogi State organised stakeholders meetings in preparatory to the election.
SETUP STAGE:
The Polling Units were opened early as the INEC Officials arrived the polling units with election materials as early as 7:30am on Election Day. Four INEC Officials, Security Personnel comprising the Police, DSS, The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Prison Officials, Immigration, domestic Observers, journalist from both Print and electronic media and some participating Political Party Agents were noticed.
The Election materials were sealed and secured as provided for in the Electoral Act in all the Polling units, and the ballot boxes were displayed to the electorate before the voting commenced. The polling units were well fortified with security personnel and they arrived on time. Some Party Agents were on ground. There were impressive and early turnout by voters in most polling units across the federal constituency. The card readers used were functioning and efficient in most of the units. There were no noticed of incidences of under aged voting.
ACCREDITATION AND VOTING:
Accreditation and Voting went on simultaneously and it commenced at 8:00am as provided for in the Electoral Act and in the INEC guideline.
COUNTING AND COLLATION:
Counting and announcement took place in most of the polling units and at the wards and collation centres, at Local Government collation centres. However, in Lokoja metropolis, in Lokoja Local Government ballot snatching, destructions of voting materials were recorded which led to the cancellation of results in the affected polling units.
In all 17 polling units result were cancelled particularly in Lokoja Local Government as a result of violence that characterized the voting process on Election Day. At the final collation centre, the final collation started at about 9:00pm on the 11th August 2018 at INEC Lokoja Office. In attendance were the National Electoral Commissioner Mr. Mohammed Haruna, Kogi State Residence Electoral Commission Prof. James Apan and several other INEC Officials. Present were the Media, accredited Observers, Government Officials, Security Agents, Participating Party Agents and unaccredited party official find their ways to the collation centre where the final declaration was made by the returning officer, Prof, Rotimi Ajayi of Federal University of Lokoja at about 11:00am on the 12th August, 2018.
SECURITY:
Though there were heavy presences of the Security Agents, in most of the polling unit, the environments were tensed and in some cases the conduct and response of the security agents were worrisome. We wonder why security personnel accompanying some party officials and politician that may not be entitle to such on the Election Day. However, as the situation degenerated which led to the alleged death of two (2) persons in Lokoja metropolis, the security agents intervene and put the situation under control.
OBSERVATIONS:
During the electoral process, the following observations were noticed:
· The distance between the voting cubicle and the ballot box was a bit far which encouraged displays of ballot papers.
· Unrestrained armed Hoodlums were noticed around the polling units and also in the entourage of party officials and most of them dressed in white head ties patrolling the streets.
· Cash displays were noticed around the polling units particularly the two big political parties.
· Inducement voting souvenir were distributed around the polling units by government and party officials
· UNTAGGED police officers were seen driving around with party officials and politicians.
· Very few domestic observers were noticed without any foreign observers.
· We also noticed there were government loyalists among the observers within the CSOs.
· We noticed that some Observers compromise their integrity by collecting money from government.
· Party agents names were not on the displayed tag, as many of the tags displayed were not issued by INEC as there were simply printed out by the political parties and giving to their agents.
· Some observers were also victimised and harassed.
· Some INEC officials were also beaten up and molested.
RECOMMENDATIONS
· INEC should screen and verify the legal status and activities of organisations that apply to observe elections in Nigeria, particularly at the state of their residence and their branches by State INEC Offices before granting accreditations to observe elections particularly as we move toward the 2019 general elections.
· Political Party Agents at polling units and collation centres should carry tag that indicate their names and passport, signed and issued by INEC. And where such fake tags and notice security personnel should not allow them at the polling unit and collation centre.
· The cubicle and the ballot box should be kept closer and the ballot box put on the table to be monitor and secure by the security agents as to protect the secrecy of the votes, to avoid the exposition of votes to vote buyers.
· Armed Security personnel should not be encouraged to accompany party and government officials as well as politicians on election days and around voting and collation centres.
· Security personnel should be alive to their constitutional responsibilities and not to give undue advantage to party in power during elections and Election Day.
· Security personnel should be properly educated on the duty, roles and responsibilities of accredited domestic and foreign observers particularly on the elections day.
· More and adequate enlightenment on the electoral process should be carried out among the stakeholders and the general public before, during and after elections by INEC, civil society and political parties.
· Political parties and politicians should not take election as do or die affairs and to stop vote buying and adheres to party finances as provided for by the electoral Act as it’s endanger good governance and freedom of choice and development.
FINAL RESULT DECLARATION
Finally the result of the election to Lokoja /Koton Karfe Federal Constituency held on the 11August 2018 was declared by INEC on 12th August 2018. The results is as follows.
KOTON KARFE LGA.
Total register voters: 47505
Votes cast: 20304
Accredited voters: 21115
Rejected votes: 581
Party scores:
Accord: 31
ADC: 977
APC: 11078.
DA: 47.
MPN: 10.
NCP: 39.
PDP: 7094.
SDP: 4033.
Total valid votes: 197203.
LOKOJA LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Total Register voters: 105965.
Votes cast: 29732
Accredited voters: 30554
Valid votes: 28442
Rejected votes: 1290
Party scores:
Accord: 118
ADC: 2007
APC: 15782
DA: 110
LP: 76
MPN: 40
NCP: 75
PDP: 7751
SDP: 2483
FINAL RESULTS FOR THE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY:
Registered voters: 153470
Accredited voters: 51669
Valid votes: 48165
Votes cast: 50036
Rejected: 1871
Total votes council as a result of violence: 19960.
Party scores:
Accord: 149
ADC: 2984
APC: 26860
DA: 159
LP: 90
MPN: 50
PDP: 14845
SDP: 2916
Signed:
Idris Miliki Abdul
Executive Director
Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution,
Lokoja, Kogi State.
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