By Omoregie Elvis, Benin
BENIN CITY – An Abuja based Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Yiaga Africa said would monitor and expose any electoral fraud that may arise from Saturday’s Edo State governoship election as part of efforts to deepen electoral integrity.
It also promised to provide accurate information on the quality of the election day process and ascertain if the official results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reflects the total vote cast at the poll.
“If the official result announced reflects the polling unit’s votes, Yiaga Africa would confirm it,” it said
At a Pre-election press briefing in Benin City yesterday, the organization board co-chair, Dr Aisha Abdullahi said that Yiaga Africa would “be providing systematic, accurate and timely information on the election day process.”
According to her, Yiaga Africa commenced its pre-election observations from July 2020 with Long Term Observers (LTOs) deployed to the 18 Local Government Areas.
“The LTOs systematically collect information on Pre-election environment and monitor electoral activities of stakeholders like INEC, political parties, National Orientation Agency+NOA),civil society groups, etc.
“The Pre-election environment revealed violent campaign rhetoric and hate speech, excessive use of force by political parties,” especially the two major political parties “and unhealthy electoral competition.”