Interim Statement on The Conduct of Akwa Ibom State Local Government Elections.
Press Statement
INTERIM STATEMENT OF ACTIONAID NIGERIA ON THE CONDUCT OF AKWA IBOM STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION
Uyo, October 5, 2024 - As the Local Government Area (LGA) elections are ongoing, ActionAid Nigeria in partnership with Clement Isong Foundation (CIF) has deployed 153 trained observers across the 31 LGAs and 153 Wards in Akwa Ibom State.
OBSERVATION
Arrival of AKISIEC Officials and Materials: The Akwa Ibom Local Government elections faced significant logistics challenges across the 25 of the 31 Local Government Areas. By 8:00 a.m., the scheduled time for the commencement of poll, the AKISIEC personnel were present only in 6 ward centers out of the 31 LGAs, as observed by ActionAid Nigeria. However, election materials were only available in 6% of the LGAs by 8:00 a.m., specifically in Abak and Urueoffong/Oruko. By 9:00 a.m, the presence of officials increased marginally to 11%, with AIKISIEC personnel arriving in Abak, Eket, Esit Eket, Ika, Ikot Abasi, Nsit Atai, Nsit Ibom, Onna, and Orukanam LGAs.
Additionally, it was observed that in Ibesikpo 2, Unit VI, AIKISIEC officials and security personnel were still not present as at 12:00 p.m. Also, at Ikot Ekpene Ward 1 Primary School Esa Atan and Ika LGA, Odoro 1, there was no AKISIEC official, and voting materials present and voters were seen leaving the premises.
Opening of the Polls: The opening of polls during the Akwa Ibom LG elections was marked by significant delays in most of the ward centers/polling units. Timeline analysis of the polls opening showed that by 8 a.m., no polls opened. By 9 am, polls had opened in 9% of ward centers/polling units; by 10:30 am, it had increased to 20%; and by 11:30 am, 64% of polls has opened and voting commenced.
The Voting Process: In many areas where we observed, there were delays in the arrival of election materials and incidences of violence. Observations indicated that in Nsit Atai, Eastern Nsit 1, Primary School, Odot, election materials were unavailable. Also, at Ikot Afang Ibsesit Ward 9 in Northern Iman Ward 1 some unknown persons ran away with election materials. There were reports of violence across some of the LGAs observed, it was reported that security personnel escorted AKISIEC staff carrying election material to the polling unit. In Ibiono Ibom, AKISIEC office was burnt down with election materials, there was reported violence and gun shots.
Conduct of Political Party Agents: Some political party agents were present in most polling units, but their conducts varied. In Abak, Etim, Ikot Ekpene, Okobo and Oruko. Security personnel were seen escorting AKISIEC staff carrying sensitive election materials to the polling unit. It was observed that in in Abak LGA, ward III, party agents dragged the election materials and violence erupted. Additionally, in Afaha Obong war II, Party agents were seen prevailing on the voters to vote. Further, party agents were seen rendering assistance to voters. This occurred in Etinan LGA ward, Northern Iman 1 ward centers 6, 11, and 12, where election materials were torn and destroyed by unknown persons, and the election has been canceled.
Vote Buying: Incidents of vote buying were minimal across the polling units. However, party agents were seen inducing voters with cash in Oruk Anam LGA.
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.
CONTACT: Oluwakemi Akinremi-Segun - Communications Coordinator | ActionAid Nigeria Tel: +234(0)8092076904 | Email: Oluwakemi.AkinremiSe@actionaid.org | Info.nigeria@actionaid.org | Website: nigeria.actionaid.org| Facebook: ActionAid Nigeria Twitter: @ActionAidNG