Tag: Election

The heads of International Election Observation Missions met in Bissau on Saturday to share information and compare notes ahead of Guinea-Bissau’s legislative and presidential elections on Sunday.

The meeting co-chaired by Ambassador Baba Kamara, Head of the ECOWAS Observation Mission and his African Union counterpart HE Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, was also attended by the West African Elders’ Forum led by the Chair and Convener of the Forum, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, accompanied by former ECOWAS Commission President Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Head of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) Observation Mission Lt.-Gen. Luis Diogo de Carvalho, his G7+G7+ counterpart Christina Mitini, and the ROJAE-CPLP, led by Mr Carlos Cauiu, Vice-President of the Electoral Commission of Mozambique,

Also in attendance were the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Guinea-Bissau, Ambassador Ngozi Ukaeje, Ambassador Baba Jamal Ahmed, of the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee,  and Senator Edwin Snowe of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Ambassador Kamara informed the meeting that his mission’s stakeholder engagements included meetings with the President of the Republic, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who is seeking re-election, representatives of opposition candidates and the National Electoral Commission, CNE, which assured the mission of its readiness for Sunday’s elections.

He said that ECOWAS had deployed 15 Medium-Term and 120 Short-Term Observers to Guinea-Bissau’s eight regions and the Bissau administrative Sector, for the polls.

From the reports of the heads of observation missions on their consultations with stakeholders, there was convergence of views on their preliminary findings and a common trend of challenges, including the exclusion of some candidates, the legitimacy of the acting CNE members and the volatility of the political ecosystem.

Despite these challenges, international observers noted that the campaigns ended without incidents, and the citizens looked forward to peaceful elections.

The meeting agreed that international observation missions should remain vigilant and hopeful for the peaceful atmosphere to continue through the post-election period.

In their interventions, former President Jonathan and Dr Chambas explained that the West African Elders Forum is not involved in conventional election observation, but engages in mediation, preventive diplomacy, and the building of trust among stakeholders to promote tolerance and consolidate peace and good governance in the region.

By Perpetua Onuegbu

Abuja:  (NAN)/Flowerbudnews:  Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) on Friday unveiled a-91 page Pre-Election Security Risk Assessment Report Dissemination ahead of the Nov. 8, Anambra governorship election.

Mr Bukola Idowu, Executive Director, KDI, in his opening remarks at the unveiling of the assessment report in Abuja, said that it was expected to help stakeholders, including INEC and security agencies.

Idowu says this was to ensure early preparations for a free, fair, and credible election in the state.

According to him, 2,057 respondents across 21 LGAs were employed for the quantitative sample survey that was used to gather the report.

He added that LGA-based monitor reporting incidents and trends on a fixed schedule were applied, adding that electoral officials, security personnel and community leaders were part of the process.

He said that key findings indicated that political violence remained a persistent threat, with lingering distrust stemming from past episodes of politically motivated violence.

Other findings he said were rivalries intensifying resentment, competition among political actors and public distrust of security agents among other findings.

“One of the major risks we identified is the potential for misinformation and disinformation, especially with the rise of AI-generated content that can manipulate digital information and incite violence.

“The other one is to ask INEC ahead to tighten the logistics when it comes to this election, because logistical challenges are not going to be seen as a mere mistake in this election, it is going to be seen as a platform of manipulation.

“That is why INEC and whoever they are signing their MoU with need to tighten the logistics issue.

“Security agencies must deploy adequately and at the same time make sure that they are neutral as they move into that election,”Idowu said.

The KDI executive director while noting that the report showed that threats from non-state actors appeared weaker compared to 2021, however cautioned against complacency as groups like IPOB could be exploited.

“The reduced activity of these groups does not mean security agencies should go to sleep.

“Also, INEC should ensure that personnel trained for the election are those deployed on election day to avoid the recurrent gap between preparation and field execution.

“The report showed that most Ad-hoc staff hardly know how to execute elections on election days.

“Low voter turnout was also flagged as a critical issue with participation in the last governorship election put at about 10 per cent, therefore the need for all hands on deck to encourage greater civic participation this time,” he added.

Idowu further noted that the political climate in Anambra was calmer than in 2021, but warned that emerging challenges could undermine the credibility of the polls.

He acknowledged growing openness among agencies to engage with civil society reports and recommendations, citing the relatively peaceful conduct of the recent Ondo and Edo elections as examples to build upon.

William Robinson, Block Lead for Governance and Stability Bock, UKFCDO said it was essential that government institutions, political actors, civil society, media and residents work collaboratively to ensure a peaceful and credible election.

“We recognise that elections are a cornerstone of democracy but beyond the act of voting, it is the integrity of the entire electoral process that determines the strength and legitimacy of democratic governance.

“That is why initiatives like this by KDI matters. By identifying risks and offering practical recommendations, civil society plays a critical role in promoting transparency, reducing violence and fostering public trust.

“We will continue to stand with you as you advance these important processes, by working together to ensure that Anambra 2025 is peaceful, inclusive and reflects people’s will,” Robinson said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the report incorporates findings from KDI’s 61 trained long-term monitors deployed across all 21 local government areas of Anambra and the neighbouring states.

NAN also reports that the Pre-Election Security Risk Assessment methodology is to track the pre-election environment, observe trends, and document both electoral and non-electoral violence with the aim to combat them.(NAN)

By Petpetua Onuegbu
Abuja: (NAN)/FLOWERBUDNEWS:  The National Consultative Front (NCFront) in collaboration with Labour and Civil Society Front (LCSF) will be launching a mass campaign and movement during a major National Dialogue on Electoral Reforms come Oct. 1.

Mallam Hamisu Turaki, Spokesperson, NCFront made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja

According to him, the campaign is to mobilise Nigerians home and abroad for critical reforms in Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 election.

“This was the high point of the decisions reached at a leadership consultative meeting of the fronts hosted by the NCFront in Lagos at the weekend.

“Based on the resolutions, there is the urgent need for electoral reforms at the just concluded National Constitutional Summit organised by The Patriots and Nigeria Political Summit Group, NPSG

“To drive critical reforms in the electoral laws of Nigeria, especially those that dimmed the credibility of the 2023 elections namely; compulsory electronic transmission of election results, effective criminalisation of vote buying.
“Others are: enactment of early and diaspora voting as initiated by the House of Representatives, proportional representation in government, especially special seats for women and other vulnerable groups,” he said.

Turaki added that the initiators had decided to launch a new electoral reform platform to be known as Alliance for Defence of Democracy, ADD on October 1.

According to Turaki, this will serve as a popular alternative movement to drive and structure the campaign and mobilisation process for critical electoral reform during the major national gathering.

He said the gathering would be addressed by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero among other leaders of conscience in Nigeria.

Notable leaders to be in attendance at the dialogue include Prof. Pat Utomi, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, Barr Femi Falana, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Comrade Joe Ajaero.

Others are Amb. Nkoyo Toyo, Dr Usman Bugaje, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, Barr Clem Nwankwo, Prophet Isah El-Buba, Chief Imam Ahmad, Engr Buba Galadima, Prof.Chidi Odinkalu, Dr Bilikisu Magoro and Mr Samson Itodo.(NAN)