In view of the scheduled Edo State Governorship election on the 19th of September, 2020, Yiaga Africa, in its ‘Watching The Vote’ pre-election press statement on the 17th of September, 2020 has stated that it will be providing systematic, accurate and timely information on the election day process.

Also, the organisation stated that accurate information will be provided on the quality of the election day process and ascertain if official results announced by the umpire reflects the total votes cast.

It further stated that it will expose the process if results have been manipulated and does not reflect the polling units’ result as well as confirm if official result announced matches the polling units’ votes.

Yiaga, in its pre-election observation exercise which started in July by its 25-man Long Term Observers (LTO) across the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state revealed that “violent campaign rhetoric and hate speech, excessive use of force by political parties, especially the APC and the PDP, and unhealthy electoral competition were prevalent in the state.Also, the observers found that early commencement of election activities by INEC in line with the timetable and schedule of activities issued by the Commission. INEC, NOA, and civil society organizations, including religious/faith-based organizations, were visibly involved in voter education and citizen mobilization.On the other hand, according to Yiaga, INEC is successfully implementing activities contained in the election timetable and schedule within the limits imposed by COVID-19 protocols.

“Yiaga Africa notes the high level of preparedness by INEC for the election and its consistency with stakeholder engagement across all the LGAs,” it stated.

It however noted that “key preparatory activities such as voter education, distribution of voter register to political parties, recruitment and training of polling officials staff, and distribution of election observation kits were ongoing as reported by its LTOs.In terms of violence-prone areas, the organisation highlighted 13 out of the 18 LGA’s which are; Etsako West, Etsako East, Etsako Central, Owan West, and Akoko-Edo in Edo North Senatorial district.

“Also, Edo South Senatorial district, such as Oredo, Orhionmwon, Egor, Ovia North East, and Ikpoba-Okha LGAs in Edo Central Senatorial district, such as Esan Central, Esan North East, and Esan. Voter inducement and non-compliance with COVID-19 public health protocols were observed by the LTOs,” Yiaga noted.

Yiaga noted that as the election draws near in the state stakeholders should be weary of emergence of consistency in applying guidelines on cancellations of votes and margin of lead, with past history of low voter turnout in the state which has always been below average, it projects that the narrative for state’s election might remain the same due to the consistent threat of violence coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on these assertions, Yiaga recommends that INEC “should ensure strict compliance with the electoral laws and guidelines in administering the election amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Polling officials should enforce the use of facemask and gently remove any voter showing the signs of COVID-19 from the polling unit.

Also, the umpire “must show utmost professionalism in election administration and ensure timely, effective, and secure deployment of its staff, materials (sensitive and non-sensitive), and other resources needed for the election to enable early commencement of polls.

On security, “agencies must maintain the utmost levels of neutrality and professionalism in enforcing election day security. They must respect the law and citizen’s constitutional and civic rights and refrain from excessive force,” it stated.

Also, proper coordination between all the security agencies deployed for the election; proper communication lines and engagement rules should be strictly adhered to as well as deployment of personnel and logistics should be all-round and not restricted to certain parts of the state.

It advises political parties, candidates, and their supporters should show commitment to electoral accountability by respecting the rules governing the conduct of the elections and refrain from employing violence to win the election at all cost.

Parties also, should continue to call on their supporters to shun every form of violence adding that, candidates, and supporters should continue to abide by the spirit and letter of the Edo State Peace Accord signed on Tuesday, September 15, 2020.

Yiaga, in its closing remarks wants Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to intensify voter education campaigns to encourage and mobilize eligible voters to participate in the exercise.