FCT Election: Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Gives Assessment 

By Joseph Sunday 

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has given its election day assessments report during voting by the Federal Capital Territory electorates in Abuja on Saturday. 

While briefing the newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, the Nigeria Civil Society  Situation Room revealed in its election day report, and signed by Mma Odi, and Celestine Odo, both Co-Conveners, and made public in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative, KDI, CLEEN Foundation and Inclusive Friends Association who were also present in the Situation Room. 

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room 

also notes that the FCT Area Council Elections began with a peaceful atmosphere that preceded election day. 

Giving details on reports from across the FCT from the networks of observers and partners, the Situation Room explained that the election witnessed late opening of polls with an average time of 9:15 am in many of the polling units observed. 

The Situation Room pointed out that, in places like Kwali Area Council, INEC personnel and material arrived on time and voting began early, acknowledging a timely opening of polls in a few voting locations.

According to the reports, it was indicated that there was late opening of polls, in many voting locations owing to late arrival of INEC staff and materials. 

On turnout of voters, residents were seen going about their normal businesses during early hours of voting mostly in AMAC. 

However, turnout began slowly with people taking their time to come out and queue to cast their votes in many polling units in Kuje, Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji Area Councils. 

Voters were also seen trying to locate their polling units which had been moved to nearby polling units. 

Although, some voters acknowledged receiving text messages from INEC on the eve of the election as a result of which they were unable to verify the locations due to the short notice given.

On the issue of BVAS known as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), there were reports that it  performed efficiently with a one-minute average turnaround time for accreditation of a voter in majority of the polling units. 

Two reports of malfunctioning of the BVAS were reported in Gwako town at the Primary School II & IV Gwako and at  Gwagwalada, Polling Unit 143 at the Open Space, opposite Okada Park by Gate post Navy Town, City Centre, Abuja.

Reports on election security as revealed by the Situation Room observers shows  significant presence of security personnel at Polling units, ranging from the Nigeria Police, Civil Defence, Immigration Service and Fire Service among others.  

Situation Room also observed that they displayed a high level of professionalism and were very courteous. 

Although, there were a few reports of intimidation and harassment in Grade 1 Area Court Rubochi, Kuje, Naharati Sabo School II, Rimba/Ebagi and PU3 UNG.

Others include Liman/UNGUWAR LIMAN 1, Abaji Central and Kpasele JSS Giri II, Gwako Gwagwalada where a voter came to the polling unit with a cutlass and the youths were able to curtailed him as the situation was swiftly handled by the security agents who took him away.

The conduct of the Party Agents were impressive as their presence were noticed in many of the polling units visited. 

Although not all the parties were represented at the same time, agents were visible in the polling units. 

In PU026, Kayada Primary School, Kuje a party agent was seen wearing a party agent tag and also wearing an INEC Assistant Presiding Officer (APO) jacket.

Vote buying was observed in many polling units visited. In few a places, it was openly done in some polling units such as PU008, 056, 057 and 058 Gidan Mangoro Ward of AMAC where votes traded with as much as  N10,000 each.

Vote buying were observed being carried out discreetly in some polling units also visited. 

Most polling units visited did not have Assistive Materials like form EC30E (PWD) for the deaf which was visible in most polling units observed but the braille ballot guide and magnifying glasses were not deployed. 

In Karimajiji – a disability colony, none of the assistive materials as mentioned above including the Form EC30E was deployed. 

Some of the voters with disability seen in PU052, Mombolo Street, Wuse also did not have access to assistive materials.

The Situation Room in all, commended the INEC FCT Help Desk for their prompt response to issues brought to their attention from the Situation Room. 

They called on all stakeholders to maintain the calm observed in the political environment and call on the security agencies to continue to maintain professionalism as they have already displayed as the polls and collation would be closed.