By EricJames Ochigbo
The Development for Educational Action Network (DEAN) an NGO has urged politicians to shun inducement of voters and election managers to ensure credibility polls in the February 2023 elections.
The Executive Secretary of the organisation, Mr Michael Semiye made the call while addressing newsmen in Friday in Abuja.
Semiye said that the observations of the February 5, 2023 Mock Elections, showed that credible elections were possible without undue interference from the political class.
He said that 50 observers were deployed during the Mock elections and that no fewer than 744 observers would be deployed for the general election proper across the country.
“The Election Eyewitness Observation Mission has shown what is possible if elections are allowed to hold without undue influence from politicians.
“The Mock Election has shown critically that our elections can go without any form of discrepancy and manipulations.
“We can have the required results from our elections in Nigeria if our politicians would leave the process alone without inducement of INEC or any officer involved in the management of election,” he said.
Semiye, however, recommended continuous training for the staff of INEC especially officers at the state level that were unruly during the Mock elections.
He urged the electoral umpire to make all necessary arrangements and resources for the field officers as politicians relish and take advantages of such gaps.
The executive secretary said it is possible to have the desired result from the elections, urging INEC to also make available backups for the BVAS machines Incase of technical or human disruption.
In her remarks, the Financial Officer for the organisation, Ms Fisayo Olaleru said key areas of observation had been mapped ahead of the 2023 general elections.
She said attention will be given to election time management, which has to do with the time it takes to accredit each voter.
According to her, we will also be looking at the entire BVAS performance in the area of efficiency in the fingerprint, facial recognition, battery lifespan.
The financial officer said that proper attention will be given to the general conduct of INEC staff and the security agencies that will be on duty.
“Other areas the Election Eyewitness will also be observing is the possible incidences of vote
buying, election violence, underage voting, voters confidence in BVAS, and the general
performance of BVAS.
“The 2023 general election is generally seen to be very crucial to Nigeria’s democracy and the Eyewitness Election observation is our contribution to the entire process for a successful and reliable election,” she said