Some Independent Foreign Observers have commended the Nigerian Military for their professional conduct during the Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

They gave this commendation via a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday.

The observers in the statement signed by Bill Campbell added that having examined the roles of stakeholders in the electoral processes found out that military played a commendable roles in the Saturday’s elections.

They said, “The Independent Foreign Observers is an amalgamation of organizations drawn from all over the world to monitor the general elections in Nigeria on the invitation of a select Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Nigeria. Consequently, the head of the mission, Bill Campbell deployed election observers around Nigeria with a view to ascertaining the credibility of the elections and the role of the various actors in the electoral process.

The Independent Foreign Observers was headed by Bill Campbell, a diplomat, and conflict resolution expert who has garnered years of experience in election monitoring in African countries. Bill Campbell’s experience spans 6 continents and over 50 countries, where he has experienced dozens of elections and other less conventional changes of government. He has braved tsunamis, typhoons, earthquakes, political revolutions and long treks on public transportation, to learn about and observe democracy in action. A graduate of NYU, Bill has been the President of his Rotary Club, constantly looking for ways to serve communities big and small. He brought his wealth of experience to bear in the monitoring of the general elections in Nigeria.

As part of its mandate to monitor and report the credibility of the general elections in Nigeria, the Independent Foreign Observers undertook a systematic survey of the dynamics inherent in the Nigeria society and consequently designed a template that accommodated the religious and ethnic sensitivity of the Nigerian people in various states of the federation with a view to getting the objective responses from the electorate as the case may be. The essence was to help observe the dynamics, make recommendations and commendations where necessary based on the competence of the team.

It was observed amongst other things some section of the country whipped up ethnic sentiments which could undermine the electoral process.

Some segment of the populace also played the religious card before the electorates in an attempt to induce or coerce votes for their political parties.

Outcome:

Consequently, there was palpable tension in the polity as regards the security of lives and properties.

The government, therefore, deployed a mix of security agencies to maintain the sanctity of the electoral process as well as maintaining law and order throughout the polls.

Election Issues

Elections were conducted in the 36 states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Our team of observers were on ground to monitor the polls and turned in a detailed report on what they observed in the various states that they were deployed.

The Independent Foreign Observers worked in active collaboration with local NGOs in the various states, and this unique collaboration made the election monitoring exercise seamless and worthwhile.

Voters Turnout:

It was observed that there was a huge voters’ turnout in parts of the country especially in Northern Nigeria. (North East and North West)

The voters defied the harsh climatic conditions to come out in their numbers to cast their votes at the various polling units

The South Eastern States also witnessed a large turnout of voters (Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo)

The South Western States didn’t experience as much voters’ turnout as in other parts of the country. This was primarily due to a palpable tension because political analysts had classified the South Western states as the battleground for candidates of both parties.

The South-South states of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River also witnessed a large turnout of voters.

The Elections:

From monitoring the elections, it was observed that the electoral process was able to maintain its credibility by the combined efforts of the security agencies led by the Nigerian Army that ensured that incidences of ballot box snatching and other electoral vices were curtailed.

Voters exercised their electoral franchise without fear especially in the northern part of the country. Our team of observers noted that in the Northern parts of the country, which hitherto was known for underage voting did not experience cases of underage voting. Incidences of vote buying were also prevalent in most parts of the South-South and South Eastern States.

The outbreak of Violence:

Our team of observers witnessed pockets of violence in some parts of the country occasioned by attempts by party agents to snatch ballot boxes. This resulted in an open confrontation with the security agencies who showed resilience in the face of provocation.

Rivers States witnessed the highest level of violence and arms bearing by political thugs that led to the death of an INEC official, an officer of the Nigerian Army and scores of people.

The Election and the Nigerian Military:

Our team of observers noted the contributions of the Nigeria Army in maintaining the credibility of the electoral process. The Nigeria Army was able to provide security of lives and properties throughout the election process.

In the North Eastern states of Yobe and Borno, the Nigeria Army provided watertight security, and this accounted for the large turnout of voters in the region.

In the fringes where it was expected that there would be security lapses, the Nigeria Army rose to the occasion as there were no recorded cases of security lapses by our team of observers.

Conclusion:

The Independent Foreign Observers salutes the resilience and courage of the Nigerian people through the duration of the elections.

The elections were conducted in an atmosphere of peace brought about by the combined efforts of the security agencies.

Cases of electoral violence were minimal but for a few states

The Nigerian Army rose to the occasion by deploying men and resources around the country to protect the credibility of the process

The Nigeria Army conducted itself professionally and within the ambit of the law even in instances of provocation as experienced in some states.

Commendation:

The Independent Foreign Observers particularly singles out the Nigeria Army for praise in its conduct during the elections. We noted a display of a high sense of professionalism even in the face of provocation by agents of political parties.

The Independent Foreign Observers also commends the leadership of the Nigeria Army for the high-level coordination of its troops across the country. The Independent also charges the Nigeria Army to deploy the same strategy in the forthcoming gubernatorial and states houses of assembly elections.

A coalition of civil society organisations, under the aegis of New Initiative for Credible Leadership (NICreL) has lashed out at the Youth Initiative For Advocacy, Growth And Advancement (YIAGA) for allegedly attempting to undermine the military’s efforts towards a credible, free and fair conduct at the general elections.

In what is gradually becoming a routine, YIAGA, funded by certain foreign bodies, discredited the Nigerian military and the entire electoral process in it’s report released on Sunday despite massive commendation coming from all and sundry.

However, NICreL, at a press conference by Executive Director, Rev. Patrick Onyeke, opined that this is another obvious coy to cast aspersion on the conduct of the polls while manufacturing evidence to pressure the security agencies.

*Read full text below*

The (Youth Initiative For Advocacy, Growth And Advancement) YIAGA Africa Watching The Vote (WTV) Group on Sunday presented what it termed its own interim report on the General Elections (for President and National Assembly) in a development that did not come as a surprise because it was well known before now that the organization exists solely to deliver on a hatchet job.

YIAGA’s ultimate delivery is to cast aspersion on the conduct of the elections, undermine its credibility and nudge Nigeria closer to chaos. A secondary goal of this questionable group is to manufacture evidence against the security and military establishments in Nigeria so that they will be under pressure and unable to effectively contain the violence that the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is orchestrating to force its declaration as the winner of the polls.

This explains why the group manufactured lies about observers being arrested and detained in Kaduna and Yobe states without specifying the details of the infractions that necessitated the security measures. For avoidance of doubts, security agencies were compelled to screen out fake observers that were being used for vote buying, voter intimidation and as couriers between dubious politicians and a few compromised electoral officials.

It also made the allegation that voters were prevented from accessing polling units to exercise their right when in reality security operatives merely ensured that persons without PVC were not allowed access to voting areas as part of proactive measures to forestall ballot snatching and undue influencing of voters by hired thugs that were out to force people to vote alongside the wishes of certain candidates.

Had YIAGA AFRICA bothered to make legitimate enquiries as opposed to putting on an air of belligerence against state officials while belittling other election observers it would have been wiser to the reality of the foregoing. It however persisted in its predetermined mission and denied itself of the benefit of enlightenment. Its ignorance of these development was responsible for its error in progressing in error by publicising lies as facts.

But we doubt that YIAGA AFRICA would have acted differently even when given the benefit of accurate information. Our assertion is based on what we have since discovered that this group is one of those on the payroll of the opposition with the sole aim of perverting Nigeria’s electoral system against the will of the people. Evidence of its being in bed with the PDP abound in the many controversial stance it took against the conduct of the election right from inception.

We also found that this group, YIAGA, is an organization that imported illegal aliens into the country for the purpose of carrying out its hatchet job. The apprehension of some of the illegal aliens it brought into the country is what it described as arrest and detention of election observers. We wonder how persons that did not meet the relevant accreditation criteria and also circumvented immigration requirements will expect to get away with such infractions without being held to account. Nigeria’s immigration requirements remain in place even during elections and they are actually heightened for such period.

There is no gainsaying the fact that an organization that can deploy illegal aliens among the observers it claimed to have sent on the field cannot come up with any report that will be credible. Its stick in trade is illegality so the report it claimed to have presented is tainted and overshadowed by the questionable way it got some of its key members into the country.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is urged to note the crimes YIAGA committed against the Nigerian state and to promptly commence the process of reviewing the accreditation it has given to members of the group and its affiliates with a view to revoking same. Even if INEC neglects to revoke the accreditation NICreL and other concerned Nigerians are not helpless in bringing the group to account for its role in trying to destabilize Nigeria. This is a condemnable act of irresponsibility.

The New Initiative for Credible Leadership (NICreL) will not stop at decrying the irresponsible activities of YIAGA AFRICA as the group has proven impervious to censure. It did nothing to correct its questionable way when they were earlier flagged as being at variance with the imperative for peace and stability in Nigeria, which confirmed it as a nuisance. NICreL hereby demands that YIAGA Africa Watching The Vote (WTV) Group and the parent body immediately pack out of Nigeria. The demand for YIAGA in all its forms move out of Nigeria must be complied with under the next 12 hours failing which NICreL will lead a coalition of patriotic Nigerian group to physically enforce its expulsion from Nigeria.

We advise groups that had allied themselves with YIAGA to immediately terminate such relationships lest they would be treated as being a contiguous part of that group. This implies that their operations too would be targeted and shut down in the interest of our country and the security if its citizens.

Election observers under the platform of Independent Foreign Observers have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Nigerians for transparency and credibility of the yesterday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

They gave this commendation at a press conference this afternoon in Abuja. The team leader, Dr. Stuart Young, an academic and diplomat spoke on behalf of other members of the team at its presentation of preliminary report.

The observers in the text entitled, “A Preliminary report on the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Nigeria” described the conduct of the elections as as fair and an indication of non-interference by the government or any of its agents.

The text reads, “In the build-up to the 2019 General Elections in Nigeria, the Independent Foreign Observers mission, a team from the United States of America, United Kingdom, and the European Union (EU), visited Nigeria with a view to observing the elections, in line with best global practices. Consequently, more than 200 local observers were recruited and trained to monitor the polls, with a view to ascertaining if the elections were free, fair and credible.

Observations:

From the reports filed in by our observers deployed all around the country, it was recorded that the turnout of voters across the country was impressive, as supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were active in casting their ballots for their respective candidates.

The conduct of the electoral officials appeared to be consistently fair and an indication of non-interference by the government or any of its agents. There were, however, some polling units that experienced late arrival of voting materials.

In both Abuja and Nassarawa state, observers witnessed polls opening late, and voting beginning after the scheduled start. In Abuja we saw voting begin as late as 9:30am, and in a Mararaba polling station in Nassarawa voting did not begin until 1pm.

Observers in Asokoro 1, Abuja witnessed a situation where there was confusion over the exact location of a polling station, because of the previous demolition of a Total service station that had been used to identify the location for voters. INEC officials set up at the nearest Total service station where they performed their duties for citizens who had lined up there. Upon discovering there was a collection of voters in a different location, where the former service station was located, INEC officials moved their voting materials to this location. Some citizens were worried that the votes that officials brought to the new station indicated ballot box stuffing, but were eventually mollified when officials explained the confusion over the location.

There were also reports of unruly behaviour at some polling units that required the immediate deployment of security to restore order. An example was in Kaduna state where voters attempted to provoke security personnel of which a senior military officer quickly resolved the situation. There were additional reports of scattered violence in Lagos, Obu state, River state and Bayelsa state.

Incidences of votes buying were dealt with by surveillance mounted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other security agencies that consisted of the Army, police, and the civil defence.

The various security agencies were professional in handling incidences of ballot box snatching and other forms of electoral malpractices. Worthy of mention is the professionalism displayed by the Nigerian Army.

The security agencies were on top of the situation in areas that were hitherto known for election-related violence and the other regions as a whole.

Observers watched votes being counted at polling stations, noting that the announcement of the vote from each ballot was announced clearly, and citizens were monitoring the process along with officials and party monitors.

From reports collated from our field officers, the 2019 general elections to this point seem free, fair and credible as neither party can fault the transparent process that occasioned accreditation and voting.

In Area 10, Garki, Abuja, observers noted a disabled (blind) person, who was given assistance in entering the polling station, allowed to progress to the front of the line unimpeded by the voters present, and was able to cast his ballot with relative ease. Observers were impressed that it was common citizens, not officials, who took the initiative to help their fellow citizen exercise his democratic right.

Suggestions:

The 2019 general elections in Nigeria, though appearing to be free, fair and credible at this juncture, using our international set parameters and the feedback gathered from the over 200 observers deployed to the various states, there are a few areas that need to be looked into in the conduct of elections in the future.

The functionality of card readers must be fully tested and properly calibrated before deployment to the polling units, before the elections to reduce the use of manual voting which takes time and might be exploited.

Improvement is needed in the areas of logistics and training of electoral officials. For example a digital voting system, perhaps using mobile phones, tablets and/or voting cards embedded with codes that can be swiped to register a voter’s choice, should be explored.

A stronger effort to start voting on time would make the process more comfortable and healthy for voters, as well as improving voter turnout.

Continuing voter education beyond the election period should focus on efforts to identify and weed out Fake news in order not to mislead the public.

Nigerians should be able to vote in their current place of residence, provided they have lived there for a designated minimum amount of time. A mechanism should be put in place to cancel their registration in their home state, when they register in their new home area.

Conclusion:

The elections appear to have been free, fair and credible to this point. It is therefore advised that winners and losers should see beyond themselves and their political aspirations, to promote the unity of Nigeria as a country.

Worthy of commendation are the staffers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for maintaining orderliness and contributing to a sense of calm and security which enabled domestic and foreign observers to efficiently carry out their duties, and voters to exercise their democratic right and responsibility.

We would like to congratulate the Nigerian government and Nigerian citizens for their enthusiasm, perseverance and fair play in pursuing their democratic ideals through this election.

NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON FRIDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 2019

Dear Nigerians,

Finally, we have reached the eve of the rescheduled first round of this year’s general elections.

2.     Tomorrow, the polls open. Tomorrow, we affirm that Nigeria stands as a democracy and that no worldly hand can deter us from this wise and fitting path we have chosen for ourselves.

3.     While democracy is the most beneficial way to select a nation’s leaders, it is far from the easiest thing to achieve and maintain.

4.     It requires a combination of patience, tolerance, compassion, diligence, wisdom and hope. These traits exist in us the Nigerian people. Because of who we are, democracy has the chance to flourish in this land.

5.     Thus, I commend all of you for your patience and peaceful conduct so far during this electoral season and especially during this intervening week following the postponement of the February 16 elections.

6.     Many were worried and thought the worst might happen. You proved them wrong by showing that you are a great people with an abiding love for peace, democracy and the unity of our country.

7.     According to the daily INEC public briefings given this week, the Electoral Commission says it is ready and fully prepared to conduct the election in a free, fair and transparent manner.

8.     I believe INEC realises the profound and weighty duty that rests upon it.

9.     We must cast aside doubt and have faith that INEC will rise to the occasion. We must believe and encourage INEC to fulfill and honour this responsibility it owes to our country.

10.     As your President, I hereby ask all Nigerians with voting cards to participate in defining the future of our nation by exercising your democratic rights tomorrow. I urge you to go out and vote.

11.     I say this because elections are the cornerstone of representative governance. And voting constitutes the highest and best expression of the sovereign will of the people to choose the government that best represents them.

12.     It is only upon the freely expressed will of the people that government truly dedicated to the welfare, rights and interests of the people can be founded.

13.     Do not allow anyone to discourage you from the exercise of your rights as citizens and voters tomorrow.

14.     To vote means that you believe in Nigeria and the excellent things the future holds for this nation and its people.

15.     No matter our political leanings, we all believe in Nigeria, in the noble principles for which it stands and in the values we strive for our beloved nation to uphold.

16.     All who are able, must vote so that we may better perfect this democracy and continue to build the greater nation we seek.

17.     Do not be afraid of rumours of violence and unrest. Our security agencies have worked diligently to ensure that adequate security measures are in place.

18.     You will be able to vote in an atmosphere of openness and peace, devoid of fear from threat or intimidation.

19.     International and domestic monitors and observers are assured of their safety and freedom of movement needed to perform their important functions.

20.     As we thank domestic monitors and observers for their contributions to our democracy, we also thank the international groups for the friendship and concern they have demonstrated to our nation.

21.     We appreciate their efforts in encouraging us to further entrench and strengthen our democracy.

22.     Tomorrow is an encounter with history in which you, the people, shall affirm your collective belief in our national greatness and in our future.

23.     I ask that you embrace and hold on to the importance of the moment soon to be upon us.

24.   Honour your civic duty as voters by going to the polls tomorrow to vote for the government of your choice, for the government that will lead Nigeria toward its finest destiny.

25.     As citizens there is no greater duty than this and no greater honour. Tomorrow, I know you will once again make Nigeria proud of its people.

May God bless our democracy and forever bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.