100 Persons Die During N’Assembly Polls,Say Observers

Posted by admin Elections 2011 Monday, April 11th, 2011

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) Election Observer Mission in Nigeria has said over 100 persons lost their lives as a result of violence and bombing incidents which took place in the wake of the National Assembly polls last Saturday.

In its report on the election, which was presented to newsmen in Abuja Monday ,the Institute said though there were a number of irregularities during the election, the magnitude was not enough to smear the credibility of the process.

Presenting the report, leader of the NDI delegation and former Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Joe Clark Clark, said the delegation joined Nigerians and other members of the international community in condemning the violence during the election process, noting that the violent incidents were regrettable.

“The delegation joined Nigerians and others in the international community in condemining the violence during the election process that left over 100 dead and many more injured. The delegation acknowledges the resolve of millions of Nigerians who went to the polls showing that their desire for democracy will not be deterred by the upcoming presidential and state elections,” he said.

The former Canadian prime minister, who was flanked by former president of Cape Verde, Mr. Antonio Manuel Mascarenha and that of Niger Republic, Mahamane Ousmane, urged the Federal Government to do everything possible to identify and punish the pepertrators of the violent acts.

While reviewing the conduct of the elections, Clark said there was evidence of increased citizen awareness, public confidence in the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) just as the proactive engagment by political parties and civil soceity has provided grounds for a break from previous failed elections.

He particularly singled out members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for exhibiting extraordianry commitment and neutrality in the manner they conducted themselves during the election.

“The NYSC represents a generation of Nigerians, who have not exprienced a democratic election, but contributed to the integrity of this one,” he said.

Among the irregularities identified by NDI in its report were late opening of polls, inaccurate, incomplete or missing voters list, inconsistent application of procedures and underage voting.

Others include over-crowding of polling sites, lack of ballot secrecy, failure to post results at polling sites and missing of essential materials.

There were also cases of omission of parties logo in ballot papers in some places, intimidation, vote buying and balllot box snatching.

NDI cautioned that unless these problems are addressed, they could adversely affect hotly.

-ThisDay

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