Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC) has reported a shortage of voting cubicles and inadequate personnel as part of their observations in the just concluded council election in Anambra State.
The body also reported late commencement of elections at observed locations and did not record any braille being used by the visually impaired individuals during the election.
A post election statement signed by the coordinator, Prince Chris Azor; and Secretary, Dr Kene Makwudo, said the election recorded apathy as registered voters failed to turn up to cast their votes.
Azor said despite the logistical challenges and other inadequacies, the exercise was free, fair, credible and peaceful across the 21 local government areas of the state.
“It’s our observation that the Anambra State Local Government Election of Saturday 28th September, 2024 held as scheduled.
“The election organised and conducted by the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) was free, fair, credible and peaceful.
“The exercise witnessed initial delay in commencement due to logistics and personnel challenges. However, polls eventually progressed smoothly without any recorded conflict, violence or malpractices,” he said.
Continuing, Azor said: “The election commenced with a slow start as a result of personnel and logistical challenges which led to late commencement of polls in some polling units across the State.
“The polling units were properly set up with the Presiding Officer (PO) displaying the election materials to voters and other stakeholders present, prior to commencement of the voting process. However, we observed that some polling units did not have voting cubicles as required.
“The voting process progressed smoothly, through identification in the voter’s register and voting subsequently in a peaceful atmosphere. Counting, collation and declaration went on unhindered in the presence of Party agents, security and accredited election Observers.
“Voter turnout was low compared to the number of registered voters in the register. Our observers reported that ANSIEC lived up to its promise of giving priority to Persons With Disabilities, pregnant women and the elderly, to cast their ballot. We didn’t, however, witness the use of braille by the visually impaired.
“Our observers didn’t report any incident of over voting, vote buying, rigging or sundry malpractices at the polling areas. There was no form of conflict or violence in the areas observed. Reports we got indicated that the exercise was generally peaceful.”
Azor who commended ANSIEC, stakeholders and citizens of Anambra for the exercise, recommended better strategic logistics management to forestall delays in commencement of polls in future elections.
He called for governance reforms, integrity and capacity building in local government administration which according to him may no longer be in place due to prolonged absence of democracy at the sub-state level.
Azor recommended provision of adequate voting cubicles as required by secret ballot principle and early commencement of voter education and citizen sensitisation for improved voter turnout, security and performance.
He also advocated for splitting of polling units, where large, to contain fewer number of voters not exceeding five hundred.
