EU observer mission says 14% of essential materials were missing on election day

Fourteen percent of essential materials were missing from polling units during the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 23, the European Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria has said.

The EU EOM stated this in Abuja on Monday, through its Chief Observer, Maria Arena, a member of the European Parliament, while presenting a preliminary report on the elections.

Arena said: “On election day, 91 EU observers saw opening, voting and closing processes at 261 polling units, and the collation of results at 94 centres across 31 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Read also: INEC declares Kogi East, Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency elections inconclusive

“Polling procedures were not always followed, and in 14 per cent some essential materials were missing. Positively, in almost all observations of counting, party agents received copies of results forms. However, there were problems in filling out results forms and they were not displayed in half the units observed, weakening transparency.”

Arena also explained that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, operated in a difficult environment and but was able to make a number of improvements since 2015, including the introduction of continuous accreditation and voting.

She however noted that there were serious shortcomings in INEC’s operations, advocating for the need for regular communication and transparency.

According to her, the last-minute postponement of the elections, and the delayed start to voting on February 23 placed an undue burden on voters.

The EU observers also condemned the violence that marred the elections in a few states.

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