‘Excessive’ military presence responsible for poor voter turnout- CSOs

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has spoken on likely reason for low voter turnout in this Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections.

The CSOs blamed the low turnout of voters in the Federal Capital Territory on excessive deployment of military and security personnel by the Federal Government.

It also explained that the voter apathy experienced in various parts of the country reflected the disappointment of citizens over the “poor conduct of the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections”.

On the other hand, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku, had blamed the low turnout on alleged rigging during the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections. He said, “There is low voter turnout and I believe it’s because of the last election which was marred by a lot of irregularities.”

The Situation Room which is a coalition of over 70 CSOs working in support of credible and transparent elections in Nigeria, in an interim statement it issued in Abuja on Saturday, expressed believe that the heavy deployment of soldiers for the elections created fear in the citizenry, including concerns over the neutrality of the security agencies and the integrity of the electoral process.

“Situation Room continues to be concerned about the excessive and intimidating deployment of military and security personnel throughout the 2019 Nigeria General Elections. Under section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, security personnel can only be involved in electoral duty as requested by INEC.

READ ALSO: Atiku feels incidences during presidential poll have affected turn out in guber election

“The Situation Room continues to voice its concern with the level of deployment of the military in the elections. The level of deployment of military arsenal including fighter jets and attack helicopters remains a serious concern for us.

“Indications from the field on the low voter turn-out points to concerns from citizens on the military deployment. There are reports of observers and poll officials being arrested across Oruk Anam LGA of Akwa Ibom State by Military and police personnel with phones and other personnel effects being confiscated.

“There are reports of the military arresting poll officials and carting away materials in Ini LGA of Akwa IbomState. In Okrika LGA there are reports of military interference in the process.

“The situation room is concerned that despite this high deployment we are still having pockets of violence. In Ezza North LGA, Ebonyi State suspected thugs were reported to have set fire to election materials at the RAC. In Etinan LG in Akwa Ibom State Youth Corp members were attacked by suspected thugs while voting materials were snatched and a police officer shot in Odukpan LG of Cross River state.

“Six (6) Journalists were kidnapped in Ahaoda West LGA of Rivers State. We had seven (7) deaths so far today.

Two (2) in Egbe Yagba in Kogi and the others in RiversStates including Emilia Gilbert a former Chairperson of Andoni LGA.

“The Situation Room continues to reiterate its earlier position that no election should cost the life of anyNigerian

and calls on the security agencies to arrest and prosecute all election offenders irrespective of their party affiliation. It is also calling on political actors to call their supporters to exercise restraint.

“There are reported widespread incidences of vote buying across the country by our observers and the Situation Room is concerned this could undermine the credibility of the outcome of the election. Sokoto, Zamfara, Ekiti, Kebbi, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Ondo and Borno States among others have reported cases of vote buying.

“As voting sets to close, Situation Room implores Nigerians to continue to exercise their right to vote and prepare to observe the collation process. Situation Room also calls on INEC to ensure that the electoral process delivers on credible election, including ensuring that the collation of results at the ward, Local Government and State levels are in line its own guidelines and the law.”

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