Politics

CTA Commends INEC for Peaceful Poll in Osun

By Web News 417

The Centre for Transparency Advocacy, CTA, has commended Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for playing their part towards the growth and development of our democracy.

Executive Director, CTA, Ms. Faith Nwadishi gave the commendation while addressing Journalists, on the observation of the group in the just concluded Osun Governorship election.

She said report from the field indicates that the voting process was generally peaceful except for view altercations is some polling units.

Ms. Nwadishi commended the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, B-VAS, in the uploading of election results which has prevented rigging or change of election figures.

While commending the early arrival of INEC polling officials, Ms. Nwadishi sadi, it was an indication of improvement with regards to election logistics arrangement on the part of INEC.

The CTA Executive Director, said voter turnout was reasonable, with a report indicating that in some polling units the electorates were already out before 7am.

She, however, said the ugly trend of vote buying that is fast becoming a major feature of democracy was witnessed during the Osun State Gubernatorial election.

Ms Nwadishi stressed the need for Nigerians, the INEC, the Security Agencies and other stakeholders to work out measures to effectively address this ugly phenomenon.

She added that political parties should be made to understand that encouraging vote-buying is a criminal offence while the security agencies should make party officials liable for the vote-buying activities of their agents.

Funmi Adekoya

Politics

Osun 2022: Group Preaches Against Vote Buying

By Web News 418

The Centre for Transparency Advocacy, CTA, has urged Osun citizens not to partake in vote trading but work for a better democratic process that will be free and fair.

The Executive Director of the Advocacy group, Ms. Faith Nwadishi made the call at the press briefing and opening of the Situation Room for the Osun Election in Osogbo.

She explained that the Centre for Transparency set up a Situation Room, manned by a political expert to receive reports from field observers which has helped the CTA to situate events and report events as they occur.

Ms. Nwadishi noted with disappointment the endemic practice of vote trading that adds no value to our democratic process.

She said, “Citizens must shun vote trading. It is only where there is a willing buyer that there is a willing seller”. 

While urging Osun citizens to come out en-masse and exercise their democratic rights by voting for candidates of their choice, Ms. Nwadishi advised parents and youths not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election.

The CTA Executive Director who commended the incremental progress recorded by INEC at every election hoped that the deployment of the new technological innovation in the electoral process, Bimodal Veri Accreditation System, B-VAS, will aid the achievement of a credible election on Saturday.

She called on political actors to ensure that their actions and words do not trigger violence and heat up the polity before and after the election.

Ms. Nwadishi urged security agencies to give assurances and make adequate provisions to protect electorates before and after the election while discharging their duties professionally.

Funmi Adekoya

Politics

Advocacy Group Warns Election Observers against Compromise

By Web News 461

Election Observers have been urged not to compromise the electoral process by giving fake reports at the polling unit monitored.

The Executive Director, Centre for Transparency Advocacy, CTA, Ms. Faith Nwadishi stated this at a training for election observers in Osogbo.

Ms. Nwadishi pointed out that any observer with an affiliation with political parties cannot be objective but would give reports in favour of the party he or she belongs to, hence, the need for them not to be partisan.

She noted that the role of election observers cannot be overemphasised as they collaborate with Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections.

“Observers’ reports have helped INEC to improve on the electoral process by giving them information on areas they can work on, so giving a factual report is very essential”, she said.

The Executive Director also advised electorates not to sell their votes in the coming election as the act would affect the outcome of the election.

Speaking on the code of conduct for observers, the facilitator, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu warned them not to collect any form of gifts from community leaders or from politicians.

He said, “Be diligent in doing your work as an observer, don’t interfere with the election officer’s work, and lastly, give an unbiased report”.

The training had in attendance sixty election observers to work in the thirty Local Government Areas of Osun State and Area Office.

Funmi Adekoya