Posted by From Oke Epia in Abuja on
The International Republican Institute (IRI), a United States-based non-governmental organization, has scored the April elections as below 'the standard set by previous Nigerian elections and international standards witnessed by IRI around the globe."
The International Republican Institute (IRI), a United States-based non-governmental organization, has scored the April elections as below 'the standard set by previous Nigerian elections and international standards witnessed by IRI around the globe."
Addressing the press yesterday in Abuja on its preliminary findings, the IRI election observation mission said Nigerian leaders and the system put in place to mid-wife the process failed Nigerians and lacked credibility because it denied many people the opportunity to vote.
Speaking on behalf of the mission, Abbe Apollinaire Malulu, president of the Independent Electoral
Commissio of Democratic Republic of Congo, Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper, former US Ambassador-at-large for war crimes, and the Honourable Andras Gyurk, member of the European Parliament, concurred that the elections 'did not measure up to those observed by members of IRI's international delegation in other countries, whether in Africa, Asia, Europe or the western hemisphere."
For emphasis, the speakers said compared to elections in Mongolia, Somalia and Mexico, the April polls fell short of standards while urging aggrieved parties to use the courts and the constitutional process to seek redress instead of resorting to the streets.
'Neither the spirit of Nigerians who went to the polls to cast their ballots nor the dedication of the thousands of poll workers struggling to execute their responsibilities in polling stations throughout the country were matched by their leaders," the mission said.
It said irregularities were observed on a higher scale during the federal elections compared to the that state the previous week, noting that underage voting, voter registration errors, ballot box stuffing, group voting, and lack of privacy at the polling units, falsified results sheets, and manipulations of voters by the police and party agents, were recurring occurrences.
The mission however expressed confidence on the judiciary and the legislature, saying, 'a peaceful constitutional process must be allowed to unfold and there must be creditable avenues of redress. Over the last year, Nigeria's Supreme Court and legislature have demonstrated an ability to resolve important political disputes with independence and integrity."
It also praised Nigerians for resolving to make democracy succeed and that the country 'has the ingredients of a vibrant democracy and the potential to be a shining example to the African continent and the rest of the world," declaring that it will follow
the adjudication process ensuing from the polls closely.
The mission noted that its 59-member delegation comprising individuals from around the world observed the process in more than 100 polling stations in Abuja, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Lagos, Nassarawa, Ogun, Oyo and Plateau, noting that violence-related security concerns forced some of its members to vacate a location in Kaduna State.