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COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS, EDO STATE, NIGERIA
REPORT OF AN INDEPENDENT MONITORING EXERCISE OF THE ETSAKO CENTRAL CONSTUENCY RE-RUN ELECTION HELD ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2010
BACKGROUND
The Appeal Court sitting in Benin City had nullified the election of Mr. Christian Umogbai in the April 7th 2007 House of Assembly election following proven allegations of irregularities brought before the appellate court by the Action Congress candidate in the election, Mr. Johnson Egwakhide Oghuma. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was ordered by the Appeal Court to conduct fresh election in the constituency. Consequently, INEC fixed Saturday, January 23, 2010. The coalition of Civil Society in Edo State saw the need to monitor the election and come up with this independent, non-partisan report. Twenty Monitors were on ground to monitor the elections.
INEC and ACCREDITATIONS: INEC embarked on accreditation of party, media and other stake holders about 24 hours to the elections. Whereas media and party accreditation was commendable, accreditation of Civil Society and election monitors was very poor, as INEC did not accredit most CSOs accreditation applicants. We recommend that INEC should improve in this area in subsequent elections, Overall conduct of the election by INEC, shows marked improvement and commendable. We recommend its replication in all future
elections.
SECURITY: The Nigeria Police provided over 4000 police men who ensured protection of lives and property before, during and after the election. There was heavy presence of policemen almost every polling station to maintain law and order. Prior to the Election Day, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG)Mr. Felix Ogbaudu had briefed all stakeholders to the election at the office of the Commissioner of Police in Benin City and warned all election riggers and manipulators to steer clear of Etsako Central or face the full weight of the law.
On the day of the election, the police had used public address system to call on all eligible voters to come out without fear of the heavy security presence to exercise their franchise. We commend the Nigeria Police for their impartiality all through the election. In the course of movement of election materials and their sharing to various polling zones and units, over 24 fake INEC officials were discovered by the prying eyes of monitors and security men. The fake INEC officials were promptly arrested at that point.
MONITORING AND OBSERVATIONS
WARD 2: Ward 2 of the constituency was a beehive as the two major contestants, Christian Umogbai of PDP and Mr. Johnson Egwakhide Oghuma as well as the former Military Vice President of Nigeria Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe, former Deputy Governor of Edo State and aide of the Vice President all hail from the ward. The independent Electoral Commission and Police Local Division are all located in the ward as well. This explains why there was heavier security presence in the ward than any other one.
At the Local Government Education Authority, Fugar which was host to 6 voting units, voting commenced at 8.30am and there were enough electoral materials in all the Units. Chief Mike Ogiadomhe cast his vote at about 11.05 am. He told election monitors that there was no problem in his polling zone that the election was peaceful and orderly. However, he remarked that he received some reports of malpractices in other parts of the constituency but will not disclose the nature of the malpractices and the perpetrators. At about 12.40pm, two persons who were alleged to be PDP members were arrested in the polling zone for impersonating as All Nigeria People Party agent.
At Ebidi Primary School Ogbona in ward 2, turn out of voters was huge but monitors observed that Policemen were ordering all those who had voted to leave the voting centres, but some voters were hesitant insisting they preferred to remain to defend their votes against high level manipulations.
WARD 4 At Imakhena Primary School Ogbona, Four persons alleged to be PDP members, impersonating as ANPP agents were arrested by policemen. This caused a steer and panic as the suspects were whisked away by security men. Attempts by monitors to ascertain the true reason for their arrest was rebuffed by the policemen.
At Oboarekpe Primary School, Ogbona which was host to four polling units witnessed large turn out of voters.
WARDS 6 AND 7, EKPERI
In Unit 9 which has 163 registered voters, voting was almost completed at 12.15pm with few voters strolling in leisurely to exercise their franchise. It was observed that only PDP agent was at the unit, no AC and ANPP agents. In Unit 007 with 500 registered voters, those who turned out to vote complained of the polling Clerk delays, which kept voters waiting in the scorching sun for several hours. She told all those who could not wait to go away if they were tired of waiting. However, she assured those willing to wait to be patient.
In Units 3 and 4 where there was massive turn out of voters, the Council Chairman, Mr. Joseph Ugheoke told the election monitors that election in the area was peaceful and orderly. Having voted, he insisted he and his supporters were going to remain until votes were counted before leaving. ANEGBETE WARD 10: Three fake INEC officials including one in possession of N500, 000 in N500 denominations allegedly intended for bribing INEC officials were arrested in Anegbette and Ifeku, Uneme-South. One of them Anslem Longe was in possession of the cash and another Akande Francis both claimed to be Edo State civil servants were arrested at Imasabemoh primary school, Anegbete. The third impostor was Solomon Evbogbai from Afuze putting on INEC inscribed uniform was caught with voters who came to Ifeku village, Ward 10, Unit 003, during search by policemen, he was found to be in possession of INEC uniform and identity card bearing Otioma Chucks of the Geography and Regional Planning Students Association, University of Benin Chapter. INEC
officials at the various polling centres denied knowing them as INEC staff, even as they could not produce any evidence of their contract with INEC. Also, another boy bearing PDP agent card was arrested at Oghomere Primary School, Oghomere, Unemhe-South while attempting to distribute 12 voters’ cards in his possession, he said he was arrested carrying out the instruction of his father, whom he gave his name as Isaac.
SECURITY ROUND UP: Speaking with monitors, AIG Felix Ogbaudu who led about 4,000 policemen to supervise the election said he was very impressed with the conduct of the election. He described the exercise and the people’s conduct as very orderly and peaceful, assured that police provided a level playing field for all the parties to the election.
RE-RUN ELECTION RESULTS
Total valid votes 13, 367, out of which Mr. Johnson Egwakhide Oghuma of Action Congress polled 7, 884 votes, Christian Umogbai of PDP polled a total of 3, 712 votes, Mr. Enakhie Festus of Democratic Peoples Party 6 votes, and Mr. Ukahs Aruna of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) had 1 vote. 2,146 votes were voided.
INEC Returning officer for the re-run election Mr. Glenn Okechukwu Ukomado
who declared the results at Fugar, said a total of 29, 171 voters registered for the
election.
HOW THE TWO FRONT RUNNERS FINISHED
WARDS |
ACTION CONGRESS |
PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY |
1 |
624 |
443 |
2 |
915 |
466 |
3 |
498 |
326 |
4 |
677 |
762 |
5 |
265 |
336 |
6 |
1,024 |
291 |
7 |
743 |
75 |
8 |
2,076 |
402 |
9 |
566 |
242 |
10 |
497 |
268 |
Total Votes |
7,884 |
3, 712 |
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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Generally, the election was peaceful and orderly, there was no security breach of any kind, no firing of even a canister of teargas nor a gun shot. All stakeholders, the Contestants, Voters, INEC, Police and other security agents must be commended. The Etsako Central Re-run Election remains one of the best in recent times. We stand by the outcome as true wishes of the people of the constituency.
Key Recommendations:
• For future elections we recommend that INEC should display the voter register two weeks to the election so that all stakeholders can validate it.
• The Edo State Government should initiate a legislative process to set up an independent election monitoring and education fund to assist future election monitors to undertake public education on election and monitoring.
• Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Edo State should be properly accredited by INEC to observe future elections in Edo State.
• We urge the various political parties to develop and encourage internal party democracy that will throw up popular candidates.
Signed:
1. Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ)
2. Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin, Chairman, NLC, Edo State
3. Innocent Edemhanria, Secretary, Gani Fawehinmi Movement for Good Governance
4. Chief Patrick Eholor, President/Founder, One Love Foundation
5. Austin Owa Osakue, Executive Director, Foundation for Good Governance and Social Change
For and on behalf of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Edo State
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