"Conduct Rerun In 4 LGs" - CODER to INEC

The Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) on Sunday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a rerun election in four local governments where alleged violations were recorded.

It said this was necessary in order to increase the poll credibility instead of holding it in 65 polling units as proposed.

The coalition also urged the INEC not to declare any election-related results until a rerun election is carried out in the said areas.

CODER states that some of the observed irregularities observed in some local governments include ballot snatching, massive thump printing, lateness of materials to polling units, absence of INEC officials and materials at some polling units, inadequate logistic provision for security officers deployed from other states, hostile polling officers to observers, complicity of the security agents in electoral fraud, display of campaign posters and others.

The coalition also adds that because of late arrivals of voting materials, accreditation could not start on time in Idemili South, Idemili North and Ogbaru LGAs.

Although accreditation and voting periods were extended in some of these polling units, INEC needs to do more for people to acquire more confidence in the election process.

Interestingly, it was reported by the observers that many polling officers In Awka south were hostile and seemed not no be aware of the role of observers in the election.

"We therefore seize this opportunity to call on INEC to provide adequate training for its polling officers on the complimentary role observers plays in an election before deploying them to the field,“ CODER concluded.

Source: Legit.ng