Polls: CDD deploys 4,993 observers, lists key factors to determine outcome

A frontline pro-democracy think tank, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), says it will deploy a total of 4,993 observers for 2023 general elections. They include trained and accredited observers, data clerks, fact-checkers and social media monitors. CDD disclosed this Thursday in Abuja at the opening of its Election Analysis Centre (EAC) and pre-election press […]

A frontline pro-democracy think tank, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), says it will deploy a total of 4,993 observers for 2023 general elections.

They include trained and accredited observers, data clerks, fact-checkers and social media monitors.

CDD disclosed this Thursday in Abuja at the opening of its Election Analysis Centre (EAC) and pre-election press briefing.

It also outlined five key issues, which would determine the voting patterns and the outcome of the presidential election.

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The group noted the presidential election which will hold on Saturday will be closely contested by four candidates: Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

According to the pre-election brief signed by the EAC Chair, Professor Adele Jinadu and CDD Director, Idayat Hassan, the five issues which could determine the elections are identity, insecurity, institutions, information disorder and inter and intra party squabbles.

The CDD noted that while Nigerians embraced multiple identities, the election campaign and the political conversation appeared to sharpen divisions along these lines.

“Subsequently, CDD pointed at insecurity as another critical issue, which could impact the conduct and outcome. According to the renowned think tank, all six geopolitical zones of the country are confronted by insecurity, which has led to the deployment of the Nigerian military across the federation.

“Northern states are engulfed in long-standing violence with extremist jihadist groups, criminal bandit gangs, and other non-state armed groups who are engaged in deadly attacks against local communities. In the south, civil unrest continues against the backdrop of ongoing violence between farmers and herders and secessionist agitators. The situation is further complicated by fuel and currency scarcity which is increasing economic hardships on the more than 130 million Nigerians classified as multidimensionally poor.

“Consequently, CDD identified the role of institutions as being crucial to conduct credible and transparent elections. These include INEC, and the security agencies who are faced with a herculean challenge to manage logistics and secure the electoral terrain. The fourth factor identified is information disorder; CDD notes that whilst social media has opened avenues for citizens to engage more robustly with their prospective representatives, the volume of misinformation and disinformation circulating online can also lead to citizen actions based on incorrect information.

“Trust is a scarce commodity in Nigeria and this fact is only being exacerbated by the volume of misleading content online.

“The fifth and final factor identified by the CDD is inter and intra-party squabbles. In the months leading up to general elections in Nigeria, violent events involving political parties increase as contestation intensifies within and between groups vying for power, despite all parties signing the National Peace Accord,” the statement read in part.