Bayelsa gov’ship poll meets international best practices — Observers

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe the just concluded governorship election in Bayelsa State yesterday said the exercise met international best practices. The group also commended INEC in the state for the transparent processes which reduced the risk of violence during and after the […]

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe the just concluded governorship election in Bayelsa State yesterday said the exercise met international best practices.

The group also commended INEC in the state for the transparent processes which reduced the risk of violence during and after the poll.

Leader of the group, Dr Isaac Iduma, while presenting the report of their observations to journalists in Yenagoa, said the election was generally peaceful, free, fair and credible.

He said INEC conducted the poll within the framework of international best practices.

Dr Iduma said the reports from 10 civil society groups – National Committee of Patriots, Centre for Strategic Conflict Management, Patriotic Women Foundation, Organisation of Justice for Equity Sustenance and Centre for Positive Change and Civic Responsibility, among others – that were in the field during the election have all endorsed the conduct of the election.

They however called for improvement in future exercises.

“Vote counting and collation of results were observed to be substantially in order. The process leading to vote counting spread into the night in some places. Interestingly, the outcome of the process was generally peaceful and transparent at the polling units and in most of the collation centres,” the group leader said.