Final Statement on the Enugu State Local Government Elections
Press Statement
Issued in Enugu State on Saturday, 21st September 2024 - At the close of polls in the 17 LGAs and 260 wards across the state that our observers covered, the following observations below were made.
OBSERVATIONS
The Arrival of ENSIEC Officials and Materials: Generally, there was late arrival of ENSIEC officials and materials in 50% of the polling units observed across the state. For instance, in Ituka polling unit and Awgu LGA, ENSIEC officials arrived at 11:11 Am with no result sheets and only 15 voting sheets instead of 26 voting sheets. As at 1:00 PM, ENSIEC officials arrived in only 50% of the 83 polling units observed across the 17 LGAs. Voting materials arrived in Ngwo Asaa 003 polling unit by 1 pm. Given this late arrival, voters were not accredited before voting started, constituting a violation of the voting process.
Opening of the Polls: No activity was recorded in 36% of the polling units in the 17 LGAs observed. There was no election in the polling units observed in Isi Uzo LGA. The polling units remained closed with no ENSIEC official or materials present. Some examples of these polling units are Akpu 016 in Eha Ward 4, Umoke Amasogiji 007 in Eha Amutu Ward 3 and Amaezeaka Ehaamufu Ward 4.
The Voting Process: Due to the late opening of polls, insufficient voting materials, inadequate result sheets, and poor conduct of political party agents, some voters were discouraged from voting. For instance, Independence Layout 024 recorded minimal turnout, with some recording no voters by 4:00 PM. A concerning trend emerged regarding adherence to the voting process. The accreditation and voting process commenced late and only happened in 60% of the polling units across the 17 LGAs observed. In 51% of the polling units, voters were not required to present their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) before casting their votes, raising questions about the integrity of the voting process.
Availability of Security Agents: Security presence was noted in only 70% of polling units observed. Polling units like Umuozzi II and Afor Ofufe, reported no security officers, thereby exposing voters to violence.
Conduct of Political Party Agents: The conduct of political party agents was poor as it did not conform to the expected threshold. In 79% of the polling units observed, we noticed attempts of political party agents to interfere with the process observed. In New Haven Primary School, some party agents were reported to be campaigning for votes and sharing tags with those who agreed to sell their votes. Also, party agents were seen fighting in CPS Amachalla ward, polling unit 001. Likewise, party agents were seen assisting ENSIEC staff in during the voting processes in Enugu East LGA.
Vote Buying: Vote buying was observed in some of the polling units as party agents were reported to be seen giving money to ENSIEC officials and voters. This occurrence was seen in about 12% of the polling units in the 17 LGAs observed including CPS Amankwo Ndiagu-001 polling unit in Ezeagu LGA. This manifested in the form of material and financial inducement.
Close of Voting and Counting of Votes: As of 4: 00 PM, 65% of polling units reported that voting had officially ended. However, it was only 55% of these polling units that sorting, and collation of votes was able to take place. By 4:00 PM, some polling units like Central School Ngwo had not closed. Also, voting closed in Amajioka village hall Ward, but the vote was not counted.
Signed: Andrew Mamedu,
Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria
Editors' notes
ActionAid Nigeria is a national non-governmental, non-partisan, non-religious, civil society organisation, and an affiliate member of the ActionAid International Federation with presence in 45 countries. It works in solidarity with people living in poverty and exclusion to achieve social justice, gender equality, and poverty eradication toward achieving a just, equitable, and sustainable world in which every person enjoys the right to a life of dignity, freedom from poverty, and all forms of oppression.
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