ELECTION IN NIGERIA:  Despite Lapses in the last Election there is hope in the electoral process- ANNID

…. calls on Electorates to shun violence 

Oru Leonard

The All Nigerians Nationals in the Diaspora (ANNID), has noted that there is hope in the Nigerian electoral process despite the flaws noticed during the election the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on  February 25th.

This message was disclosed by the ANNID Global Chairman/ Head of Mission, Dr. Peter Mozie from Huston Texas, USA, in a world press conference at Abuja yesterday, when he delivered the Preliminary report on the 25th February, 20 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Addressing journalists he said” We, All Nigerian Nationals in the Diaspora, are submitting our preliminary report of the just concluded election. We will like to first of all state that the conduct of the election, the violence and the administrative inefficiencies undermined the electoral process.

“Against all odds, Nigerians and Nigeria has demonstrated willingness and readiness to embrace democracy. Unfortunately things did not go as we were promised they were supposed to go, leading to electorates being dis- enfranchised beyond limit.

“We deployed our members to 22 states of the federation to observe this election at different locations and all our members are coming out with reports.

“I will go ahead and mention the problems envisaged. One of them is, lack of adequate preparation by INEC. Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), were not as efficient as we were made to believe when we started this process.

He said in many of the polling units results were not counted nor uploaded. Some polling units were heavily populated will some were scanty.

“Votes were not counted at the polling units as required by the INEC guidelines.

“Many reported that the INEC staff refused to allow counting of votes, insisting that the ballot boxes will be taken to collation centres”, he explained.

However Dr Mozie commended the improvement made by INEC. “We observed that there was a separate line for nursing mothers, the elderly and the physically challenged. We observed INEC established a cubicul were sensitive materials were kept and we also observed the INEC Portal for interaction was very helpful in the electoral process.

He called on Nigerians, especially the youths to shun all forms of violence while the nation goes through the reconciliation process.

He urged that President Muhammadu Buhari to take the lead in ensuring that there is a peaceful transfer of power; that all issues raised by the electorates, by the agriefed political parties is fully addressed resolve the matter as peaceful  with out having any more blood shed.

Speaking, the Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr Uke Agwu from the United Kingdom, recalled that ANNID’s strategy for observing the election are in three phases, pre- election we political parties and electorates were and then training of 627 local and international observers trained and deployed to 22 states of the federation  and all of them making report to our situation room but a comprehensive report will follow after the next election on March 11.

He said that the 70 percent of registered youths claimed by INEC was evident by the turn out the Presidential election day, He said the late arrival of election materials caused brought about a lot challenges which undermined the electoral process..

He further clarified that ANNID is focused on the electoral process.

Others who made similar observations include the Country Representative of ANNID, Barrister Hannatu Abimiku, Ms Nonye Igwuebe from Boston Massachusetts, Pharm Theodora Igboka from Huston Texas.

About All Nigerians Nationals in the Diaspora (ANNID)

ANNID is a registered Non-governmental Organization of Nigerian nationals in the diaspora.

According to the Global Chairman/ Head of Mission, Dr Mozie, ANNID is the only INEC accredited Nigerian Diaspora organization accredited to observe the 2023 elections. ANNID’s vested interest and strategic objective is to support every effort aimed at ensuring that the 2023 elections in Nigeria is transparently conducted, that the sanctity and the integrity of our democracy is preserved to the fullest extent required in accordance with international best practices.

ANNID prides itself on its CORE PRINCIPLES of professionalism, Impartiality, Neutrality, Autonomy and Excellence. Religion, ethnicity, gender or economic status have no place in our determination in rendering a quality, purposeful and altruistic NON PARTISAN service to Nigeria and Africa in general.

ANNID’s first accreditation as international election observation Organization was achieved in 2011 and since then ANNID has observed almost all elections in Nigeria, including sub- national level elections.