…says citizens dissatisfied with poor conduct of presidential poll
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA – The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has blamed the low turnout of voters for the Governorship, State Assembly and Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, on excessive deployment of military and security personnel by the Federal Government.

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, said 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”.

It said 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.

“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.
https://newlive.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/polls-group-tasks-fg-security-agencies-to-protect-igbo/

“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.

“At the time of writing this statement there is evident low voter turnout. The low turn-out of voters can only but be attributed to two factors – voter apathy arising from the effect of the disappointment of citizens over poor conduct of the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections and the excessive and heavy deployment of military and security personnel for the elections, that has now created fear in the citizenry, including concerns over the neutrality of these security personnel and indeed the integrity of the electoral process.
https://newlive.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/situation-room-knocks-inec-says-2019-polls-a-step-back-2/

“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”, read the statement that was signed by convener of the CSOs and Executive Director of Policy & Advocacy Center, Mr. Clement Nwankwo.