Guber Polls: CDD calls for peaceful electoral process, diminished violence
By Halima Abdulkadiri
A Civil Society Organization, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has moved to enlightened Nigerians and journalists with guidelines for INEC preparedness, diminished violence critical for credible elections.
Idayat Hassan, Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), addressed the briefing on Friday in Abuja.
Read Also: March 18 Poll: Gov. Zulum Promises Good Governance, If Re-Elected
Speaking on the March 18 Elections, CDD Director, Idayat Hassan noted that credible polls are vital, but will be challenged by the threat of violence, logistical obstacles linked to security, cash, fuel scarcity and decreased trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the previous Presidential Election that were undermined by delayed and technical issues.
The report gathered that Twenty eight (28) states will have new Governors regardless of the outcome. Highly contested election in these states are likely to be sites for election violence that includes voters intimidations, ballot box snatching and the destruction of election materials.
According to her, INEC must quickly learn from the 25th February election if it is to emerge with it’s credibility intact.
“Given that the polls have been delayed a week to give INEC time to reconfigure the (BVAS) device. The commission has had additional time to prepare for this election”.
“Results from the just concluded election have also thrown up new but important dynamics. For instance, in the declared National Assembly seats so far, there have been many instances were parties won the Presidential Election in the state, but reverse was the case for the National assembly seat.
“We hope to see this translate into a prompter opening across the country, with these polling units fully equipped with necessary voting materials to avoid scenarios observed in the presidential polls where voting continued beyond the scheduled closing time.” she said.
Addressing security agencies, Idayat said: “Security agencies and their staffs to refrain from any engagements in the election process that contribute to an escalation of violence and remind them of their primary loyalty to Nigerians.”
She also added that political parties should remember their commitments to peaceful election processes. Strongly condemning candidate, parties or actors affiliated to them who violently disrupts polls and urges security agencies to take the necessary actions to persecute those proving to have engaged in election-related violence to disrupt polling.
