How Nigeria can Manage election better, U.S Observers
-United States of America observers have decried the lack of progress in election administration in Nigeria
-The International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) also bemoaned the conduct of political parties in Nigeria.
– The institutes expressed disappointment at the conduct of the Nigeria 2019 general elections.
The International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) have regretted what they described as the lack of progress in election administration and conduct of political parties in Nigeria.
These were observations made at a press conference today, Monday, March 11, in Abuja, the African Regional Director of IRI, John Tomaszewski, expressed the disappointments his delegation felt at the conduct of the Nigeria 2019 general elections.
He stated that opinion of Nigerians on the entire exercise were not considered, pointed to the electoral retrogression instead of progressing in electoral processes and outcomes.
“We noticed vote-buying, violence, militarisation, say foreign observers.
The observers particularly identified vote-buying and electoral violence as some of the setbacks in the conduct of the exercise in various parts of Nigeria.
Tomaszewski went further to conclude that the country had not made any significant progress since the 2015 outing.
According to him, the secrecy of the ballot was not uniformly protected in polling units observed, adding that insufficient physical space within some of the units meant citizens marked and cast their ballots in very close proximity to party agents, polling and security officials as well as the public.
He also called for a national conversation on progress made and vulnerabilities that must be overcome to further strengthen the credibility of electoral process and safeguard the nation’s democracy.
Nasarawa Reporters 