The Coalition of INEC Accredited Domestic Election Observers has frowned against the pre supplementary elections protests however peaceful in Adamawa state, it warned that it’s violence prone. This was contained in a press conference Thursday, held at the press centre in Yola, the state capital.
The northeast coordinator of the coalition Alhaji Mukhtar Hammanjoda said, “In our previous press conference, we promised to return on 12th day of April, to be able to visit the polling units, to assess the level of the INEC preparations ahead of the governorship supplementary elections slated for Saturday; to intensify our voter education by encourage the electorate in the affected polling units not to relent but to come out wholeheartedly to exercise their franchise That’s our mission.
“The coalition has deployed 152 participating observers; 138 field officers and 15 principal officers from Abuja. We’ll assign 2 field officers to each polling box”.
The coalition coordinator has called on the electorates to have confidence in the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Barr Hudu Ari who gave his word on transparency and credibility in the conduct of the rerun elections and like “Big Brother” in George Orwell’s satire “1984” the coalition would keep on watching rather keenly.
“We’ve earlier condemned pre supplementary elections protests, however peaceful, because they could degenerate into violence and eventually anarchy. What is the basis for the protest when elections have not been concluded for a candidate and/or the party to feel being shortchanged for any agitation as a means of redress?
“We’re honestly not happy with the protest. Adamawa the land of beauty is known to be a peaceful state, why the protests when one’s mandate isn’t been denied, counting on disappointment before befallen?
“Therefore, considering the voter apathy, especially in the face of Ramadan fasting, we shall, within 2 days prior to the elections, visit the 69 affected polling units across the state to encourage by sensitising the electorate. It is referred to as voter education,” Hammanjoda assured.
Meanwhile , Hammajoda has noted that the coalition has confidence in the security agencies responsible for ensuring peace and security before, during and after the supplementary elections. The coalition however called on the security operatives attached to the voting exercise and the INEC officials to discharge their duties and responsibilities with fairness and justice
