…in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Bauchi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Cross River, Kaduna, others

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

ABUJA-A coalition of independent observers, under the aegis of the Civil Society Election Situation Room, yesterday issued a statement on the just concluded presidential elections across the federation, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to investigate the authenticity of some of the election figures.

The group specifically called INEC to investigate the exceptionally high turnout of figures in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Kaduna, Imo, Plateau and Rivers States, noting that it was against the 53% benchmark national average.

According to the statement which by the Executive Director of the Center for Democracy and Development, CDD, Dr Jibrin Ibrahim, and the Executive Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Center, PLAC, Clement Nwankwo, respectively, the group commended Nigerians for their determination in voting and protecting their votes in the 16 April presidential election.

“INEC has released the final returns from all the states and the FCT and a winner has emerged. We believe that, in managing this presidential election, INEC sought to comply with the applicable electoral laws and provisions of the Constitution.

“However, the Civil Society Election Situation Room notes reports of quite significant anomalies at the levels of accreditation, voting and collation, which we believe require prompt, open and transparent investigation.”