Interim Statement by
Coalition of Democrats
For Electoral Reforms
(CODER)
On The observation of
2013 Anambra State
Governorship Election
Anambra state
governorship election was
greeted with much
anticipation and hope
because both INEC and
citizens see it as a litmus
test for 2015 general
elections. While we must
commend the people of
Anambra for having
conducted themselves in
a peaceful manner so far,
reports from our observers
deployed across the state
shows critical areas the
election has fallen short
of people’s expectations.
Some of the irregularities
observed in some local
governments include
ballot snatching, massive
thump printing, lateness
of materials to polling
units, absence of INEC
officials and materials at
some polling units,
inadequate logistic
provision for security
officers deployed from
other states, hostile
polling officers to
observers, complicity of
the security agents in
electoral fraud...
[Also], display of
campaign posters and a
host of other irregularities
were observed in some
(sensitive) local
governments in the state.
CODER observed election
materials did not arrive on
time in many polling units
specifically in Idemili
North, South and Ihiala
local government. In
Nnokwa Ward, Idemili
South LGA, names
starting with O-Z were
missing from voters
register . As at 1pm, no
INEC officials or materials
were seen in Nkpor 4,
Idemili North LGA . As a
result of late arrivals of
voting materials,
accreditation could not
start on time in Idemili
South, Idemili North and
Ogbaru LGAs. Although
accreditation and voting
periods were extended in
some of these polling
units, INEC needs to do
more to enhance people’s
confidence in the polls.
Furthermore, CODER
observers report that
many polling officers in
Awka south were hostile
and seem not to possess
the knowledge of the role
of observers in an
election. Information that
would help observers fill
their checklists were
denied them and security
officials were used to
intimidate and harass
duly accredited observers.
We therefore seize this
opportunity to call on
INEC to provide adequate
training for its polling
officers on the
complimentary role
observers plays in an
election before deploying
them to the field.
From the foregoing, to
increase the credibility of
the polls in this election in
fairness to all candidates,
it is important that INEC
conducts a rerun election
in four local governments
where massive
irregularities and electoral
fraud were recorded as
against the three wards in
Idemili North comprising
only 65 polling units. The
rationale for this call is to
address the palpable
notion that there was a
deliberate attempt to
subvert people’s choice
and ensure a particular
candidate whose
supporters and strong
base are in these LGAs
does not win in these
areas.
The second reason is that
with the combined voting
population of these LGAs
at over 300,000, it
becomes imperative for
INEC to show the election
itself as an unbiased
umpire by adhering to the
wishes of the people to
have rerun in these three
LGAs.
Some of the specific
electoral malpractices and
fraud observed in these
local governments are:
Most fraud committed in
the election happened in
Idemili North and South
local government which
happens to be the support
base of one of the
candidates. There appears
to be a deliberate attempt
to subvert people’s
mandate in these areas
Some wards did not see
any INEC officials nor
voting materials two hours
after voting ought to have
commenced . At Ogidi
Ward 2, polling unit
007/008, Idemili North,
people refused to vote
due to absence of result
booklet. At PU 007, one
Obiora Okonkwo came in
company of policemen
with vehicle number PF
2317 SPY. He asked one
Bassey Effiong (Force No.
375774) to force people
to vote but they were
resisted
It was alleged that APGA
and PDP were offering
10,000 naira to polling
officers and non credible
observers to allow them
operate freely in Nteje
ward, PU 004, Ama Okpo
and Orikabi
No election materials and
no result sheets at
Nbakwu.
Election materials diverted
at Ethel Obiakor Estate,
Awka South.
Insufficient polling officers
noticed in Nnewi LGA,
Assistant Polling officers
were introduced to fill the
shortfall without prior
training.
No result booklet brought
to Ogidi ward 2, polling
units 007/008, Idemili
North LGA.
Police made vulnerable to
electoral fraud due to lack
of logistics for their
accommodation and
feeding .
We therefore join our
voices with other
Nigerians to call on INEC
not to declare any results
relating to the election
until a rerun election is
conducted in the local
governments where many
citizens were
disenfranchised from
exercising their
constitutional rights rather
than the few polling units
it plans to repeat the
exercise.
CODER also appeals to
INEC and security
agencies not to only
document but put to use
lessons gleaned from this
election to improve the
conduct of future ones.
Signed:
Coalition of Democrats for
Electoral Reform (CODER)
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