Observer Group, Hands Africa’s Report on Lokoja/Koto Bye-Election

INTRODUCTION

The 11^th August, 2018 Lokoja/Koto House of Representative Bye-Election is critical for many reasons especially because it is one of the unexpected elections conducted by INEC in build up to the 2019 general elections. Hence, it serves as a test ground for INEC and Civil Society Organizations like Hands Across Africa Development Initiatives to ascertain the level of preparedness by INEC to conduct a free, fair and credible elections and to identify areas of focus as we prepare toward the 2019 general elections. Also as an organization that monitored the July 14^th 2018Ekiti Gubernatorial election, we believe on the need to continue monitoring the emerging dynamics in the electoral trend as we approach the 2019 general election.

METHODOLOGY

Hands Across Africa Development Initiatives deployed total of 10 observers in Lokoja and KotonKarfe, the two Local Government Area that represent Lokoja/Koto Federal Constituency. Out of the 10 observers deployed, 4 were stationary observers while 6 were non stationary. Four observers were deployed in KotonKarfe LGA while Six (6) were deployed in Lokoja LGA. Out of the 4 deployed in KotonKarfe LGA, 3 were non stationary and of the 6 deployed in Lokoja, 4 were non stationary while two were stationary. One was at Barracks Polling Unit, while the other was stationed at Lokoja Local Government Secretariat Polling Unit both in ward A. The methodology for deployment was done base on the voting population of the Local Government and the polling unit where observers were stationary were carefully selected base on past recorded incidences.

FINDINGS

• Arrival

1. All the 15 polling units visited between 6:30am to 7:30am in Lokoja and KotonKarfe LGA, INEC Adhoc staff and materials had arrived. Only at Polling Unit 01, Kupa South ward INEC Staff and Adhoc Staff were not seen as at 8:00am.

• Polling Unit Setup

2. Accreditation and voting commenced at the 10 polling unit visited between 8:00am and 8:15am, except for PU 03, Alh. Mayaki frontage; PU 04 – Maigari Palace; PU 01 – Yashi, PU 05 BiyeTyre all of Ward C; PU 02 Angwan Kura; PU 05 Mahadi; PU 03Madabo all of Ward D where voting could not start due to the revolt of voters against some suspected thugs wearing WHITE CAPS distributed across the polling units by an unmarked bus and PU 01, Kupa South Ward where materials and adhoc staffs were not seen until around 11am.
3. All the 39 polling units visited across the Lokoja and Koto LGA by all our observers were split into more than one voting point.
4. At all polling units visited not less than six security agents were seen on ground.
5. At least three party agents were seen in all the polling units visited.
6. All polling units visited had card readers, ballot box, cubicle, ink pad, indelible ink etc. except for some polling units where the glue for pasting the voter register on the wall was insufficient.
7. At all polling units queue were separated according to gender.

• Priority Voting:We observed across all polling units that people with disabilities, aged persons and pregnant women were given voting priority.
• Inaccessible Polling Units: We discovered some polling units that are inaccessible for people with disabilities in Lokoja Local Government Area. PU 02 Barracks, Ward A; PU 03 Karaworo, Ward C; PU 04 Maigari Palace; PU 02 Angwan Kura, Ward D, were all set up on a concrete platforms or across gutters without ramps
• Armed Police Men at Polling Units: We observed 3 armed police men at PU 014 Lokoja Local Government Secretariat, Ward A.
• Vote Buying/Selling: The Lokoja/Koto bye-election was plagued by open vote buying and selling across all the polling units visited. Political Parties were distributing from one thousand to four thousand and packaged rice, maggi and onions were distributed unhindered. PU 017 SUBEB, Ward A, Vote Buying shop was opened in one of the SUBEB offices where voters go to sell their votes undisturbed. At PU 02 Barracks Ward A, White Toyota Hilux truck was seen loaded with rice, maggi, salt and onion packaged in one of the political party candidate’s picture and party logo. PU 03 Madabo, Ward D, party agents were seen handing outwhite envelopes containing cash to voters after casting their votes.
• Disruption of Voting/Ballot Box Snatching: We discovered the disruption of voting at PU 013 NEPA, Ward A and PU Adankolo Primary School, Ward A where some thugs invaded the Polling Units shooting sporadically and carted away the ballot boxes.
• Ballot Boxes/Cubicle Position: We also discovered that ballot boxes were position very far from the cubicle which allows voters to flash their ballots and eventually sell the vote. We also noticed that in most of the Polling Units queues were situated closer to cubicles or ballot boxes.
• Secret Vote Sorting and Counting: We observed at PU 014 Lokoja Local Government Secretariat, Ward A that armed security agents disallowed voters to observe vote sorting and counting.
• Armed Security Agents Escorting Politicians: At PU 03, Alh. Mayaki frontage; PU 04 – Maigari Palace; PU 01 – Yashi, PU 05 BiyeTyre all of Ward C; PU 02 Angwan Kura; PU 05 Mahadi; PU 03 Madabo all of ward D, PU 014 Lokoja Local Government Secretariat, Ward A armed security agents were seen escorting politicians to polling units. The resistance of voters allowing one of the politicians access to the polling unit almost disrupted the election at PU 05 Mahadi, Ward D, Lokoja.
• White Capped Fellows: At all polling units visited voters reported some three persons wearing white caps lurking around the polling units.
• Non Restriction of Movement: The non restriction of movement allowed for people, unnumbered cars, unconnected to the election to movement from one Polling Unit to the other with security agents and thugs in some cases exhibiting acts that almost disrupt elections in some polling units. It also allowed for cash and other gift items to be distributed with utility vehicles across polling units.
• Media:None of our observers across the two LGA saw anybody from the media either observing or covering the election.
• Shootings: At intervals we observed that sporadic shootings rent the air especially around Ward A and B of Lokoja LGA. This continues throughout the election and after the election.

Recommendation

In the preparation for the 2019 elections and beyond, INEC, Police and other relevant stakeholders must start putting in place necessary actions and policies to ensure those situations are curbed to forestall further happening and strengthen our electoral process. Therefore, Hands Across Africa Development Initiative recommend the following;

1. Security Agencies should start arresting and prosecuting those involve in vote buying/selling, Ballot Snatchers and those that violates any of the election regulation.
2. INEC should start taking precise measures to curb vote buying and selling by situating the cubicle and the ballot box side by side.
3. INEC should ensure those polling units set up are done on flat and accessible palaces for people with disabilities.
4. Restriction of movement should be enforced in all election and any security agent seen escorting politicians on Election Day should be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
5. Security Agents should start investigating and removing suspicious individuals that cannot be linked to the Polling Unit, especially when complaints arise from legitimate voters at the polling units.
6. Security Agents should identify and train their personnel on elections before deployment.
7. The media should be aware of the importance of their role to the credibility of election and partake in election observation or coverage.

Conclusion

Hands Across Africa Development Initiative (Hands Africa) remains resolute to free, fair, credible and peaceful elections and the nonstop growth of our Democratic Development. It is on this note we call on INEC, Police, Political Parties, NGOs and all stakeholders to have all hands on deck in ensure that the rule of law is uphold in other to achieve a Democratic driven Nigeria, where Democratic consolidation is the hallmark.

Signed:

Umar Dan’Assabe Muhammed
Executive Director,
Hands Across Africa Development Initiative (Hands Africa) 08037887104, 08112642092
@Dan_Assabe
Block 1, 1st Floor, Bomi Plaza, Lokongoma, Lokoja, Kogi State.