A COALITION of about 40 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) yesterday raised concerns about varying shades of alleged electoral malpractices during the 2011 Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections conducted last Tuesday and urged the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the allegations. In a statement issued on behalf of the coalition under the aegis of the 2011 General Election Situation Room by Executive Director, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim and Executive Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo, they noted that in certain locations such as Akwa Ibom, Benue, Imo and Katsina states, the distribution of ballot papers was half or less than half of the number required based on registration figures.The coalition also observed the absence of results sheets at many polling units, or, in some cases, duplicates of the real thing without the security markings.In all of these areas, INEC personnel, including NYSC members and security officials, allegedly colluded in the observed malpractices, it stated.The group also received reports that some desperate politicians actually resorted to sewing fake NYSC uniforms and printing fake ballot papers to carry out their nefarious deeds.For all these reasons, the Civil Society Election Situation Room calls on INEC to investigate all allegations of serious misconduct and, if those are validated, to void the elections affected and organise a re-run, the coalition urged.It also called on INEC to undertake a comprehensive and transparent audit of the entire 2011 electoral process with a view to plugging the gaps observed.Part of the statement issued by the coalition reads: We note with satisfaction the high turnout of NYSC members following the post-election violence and the threats to its members in the wake of last weeks presidential election. In that respect, we commend the role of the security services in guaranteeing their participation in the just-concluded elections.However, the Civil Society Election Situation Room has certain concerns as it relates to the conduct of these elections. Contrary to our call for the political authorities to ensure that the security forces discharge their duties in a professional manner, reports reaching us show that this was not always heeded in Akwa Ibom, Imo and Katsina.Furthermore, the deployment of soldiers in potentially volatile parts of the country appears to have reduced the levels of violence, including thuggery and ballot box snatching. It was also the case that their presence in such heavy numbers may have had the contrary effect of intimidating voters, hence the low turnout witnessed in most states in the country compared to the previous exercise.We also note the ambiguity surrounding the curfew and/or restriction of movement imposed in certain states, notably Imo, Katsina and Plateau. Concerning Imo State, for instance, it is now clear that a curfew was initially imposed from 6 p.m. yesterday until 6 a.m. today, and subsequently extended to 10 a.m. Given the reports of serious electoral malpractices in various polling units in the state, in particular Owerri, Mbaise and Mbano, the palpable fear is that the curfew was simply a ploy to prevent observers and party agents from monitoring the collation process. This is especially troubling since it is the collation process that has proved the weakest link in the quest for free, fair and credible elections.
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