OUR attention have been drawn to a publication recently circulated by some CSOs condenming the report of the recently concluded Gubernatorial and State Assembly Elections as observed by seasoned and duly accredited INEC Domestic Observer Groups in Kano State that took place on 18 March 2023.
As a coalition of duly accredited INEC Domestic Observer Groups, it has been a tradition that at the end of every election excercise we compile, compare, report obtained from various field officers deployed to all the 44 Local Government Areas in Kano State.
To this end, every data collated by our field officers have been proven to be accurate, reliable, and verifiable without any act of misinformation or mischief intended to hurt, please or malign any particular interest.
In this context, we wish to affirm categorically that the group never at any time called for the cancellation of the Kano polls. Rather in fairness we advised that INEC should review results obtained in affected areas where issue of BVAS and overvoting occurs.
We operate solely on rules of engagement and code of ethics of the observers guidelines as required by the law.
We also agree that in every elections all grievances must be channelled to the court of law.
We havent said anything different from what was reported in other states like; Abia, Adamawa, Enugu, Ogun etc.
We uphold the Electoral commission in much higher esteem as the umpire mandated by law to conduct elections and announce results.
However as observer groups our duty is to identify, observe, report and refer all communications to INEC.
The TMG and its allies in their submissions alluded to the fact that we have earlier reported when they mentioned that ” noting that the last elections was marred by violence and other forms of electoral malfeasance, the CSOs affirm that they stand by thier earlier recommendations on the part of INEC and other stakeholders to improve the elections in Nigeria”.
We are apolitical, neutral and had no affiliation with any political party.
As a Coalition of Election Observer Groups we are neither faceless nor partisan as been reported to malign the image of the coalition before the good people of Kano and the nation at large.
We want to reiterate here that we are experienced observer groups with over 30 years field experience in election observations in Nigeria and other African Countries.
OUR STAND STILL REMAIN THUS:
1. INEC should examine bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) machine deployed to verify the figures on the results sheets Form EC8As for all affected local government areas.
2. There were reported cases of irregularities of some state actors and non state actors that tried to undermine the process of election in Gwarzo, Tudunwada, Bagwai, Dala, Fagge local government, just to mention a few.
3. We refer also to the margin of lead which is put at 128,897 votes less than total number of cancelled votes of 273,442. Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 as ammended is very clear on cases like these.
In conclusion, we the Coalition of INEC Domestic Observer Groups therefore states that the Kano State Governorship and State Assembly Elections conducted on Saturday 18 March 2023 was marred by irregularities, violation of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines and do not meet with the best democratic practice.