The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) yesterday released the overall preliminary assessment of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections across the country, concluding the process was “relatively well executed.”
In the report signed by the TMG chairperson, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi and the chairman of HEDA, Olanrewaju Suraju, the groups urged parties dissatisfied with the outcome to follow due process in seeking a redress.
The report, however, observed that there were old issues like late arrival of election officials at polling units across the country, voters inducement, among others, adding that “the lapses observed were consistent with our experiences in previous elections.”
The group also noted that there was an attempt to disrupt voting and result collation processes by thugs, persons dressed in military/police uniforms and political party agents in some places as well as difficulties in the authentication of some registered voters due to malfunctioning of smart card readers.
The report also identified cases of voting irregularities: unaccredited voters, multiple voting, snatching and burning of election materials and underage voting.
“We urge all stakeholders not satisfied with the outcomes of the elections to refrain from violence but follow due process in seeking redress,” Akiyode-Afolabi and Suraju said.
The groups said voter turnout was encouraging in most polling units, adding that security was adequate, and in most places provided the confidence that most voters required to come out to vote.
They said the final report would expand on other issues observed.