Razaq Bamidele
A coalition of 130 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the umbrella of the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NIHRICO) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the residents of Lagos State for the peaceful conduct of the governorship and House of Assembly election held on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Taking an overview of the election at a press conference in Lagos Thursday stated that before the election there was much fear in the state because “the election was preceded by ethnic and religious baiting,” thanking God however that, that did not result into any major confrontation between the parties.
Residents of Lagos State, despite that, still came out to vote.
Mr. Taiwo Adeleye, who read the report of the group said it is wrong for some people to absolutely condemn the outcome of the poll, explaining that NIHRCO deployed 680 observers to the field to monitor the election in the, 20 Local Government Areas and the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
The group noted that, though, there were some skirmishes, like snatching of ballot boxes, harassment and report of killing of one person, it noted that those developments were not sufficient reasons to rubish the election, adding that, there was no perfect election anywhere in the world.
“There is no election all over the world that is 100 percent perfect.” The group said.
It also commended the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for moving round the state before the election to calm fray nerves, adding that the election, was the most peaceful in the state since 1999 when the nation returned to civil rule, just as it also commended the security personnel for maintaining law and order during the election.
The coalition also commended the political leadership of the State Government saying that its commitment to a free and fair election eliminated acts of violence compared to previous elections in the state when lives were lost often due to the might of the Federal powers forceful attempt at influencing the outcome of the elections.
The presentation was supported by members of the Nigerians in Diaspora and South West Professional Forum, (SOWPROF) who spoke through zoom from abroad describing the election in Lagos State as one of the best in the country and a model for future elections in Nigeria.
Nosa Osaikhuiwu, a Project Management Expert from the Colorado State University said he followed the elections in Lagos adding that it was one of the best in the country.
“I m glad to speak to the audience. We Nigerians abroad are glad with the peaceful conduct of the election in Lagos.
“This offers tremendous opportunity for Lagos to continue her leadership role as the most significant city state in Africa,” Osaikhuiwu said.
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The group, which said it chose Lagos as one of the focal points in the last gubernatorial election deployed 680 observers across the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas, (LCDAs).
It said observations of the election took a dialectical overview of the Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats before, during and after the election.
It argued that Nigeria is a developing country with historical challenges in a plural and dynamic country that had passed through the pain of civil war which led to the death of several people.
“We urge stakeholders to stop stoking the embers of violence which is an ill wind that blows no one any good. We call on INEC to improve the number of polling units in Lagos. The distance between one polling unit and the other should be addressed. We also call on INEC to make provisions for vulnerable communities, pregnant women, People Living With Disabilities (PLWD) in future elections.”
The group then assured that the full report of the observations from monitors will be published and presented to local and international communities very soon.
