Missed Opportunities: Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Governorship Polls Undermine Democracy

• Yiaga Africa expresses disappointment in the missed opportunity to strengthen democracy in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi off-season governorship elections
• The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) highlights issues of malpractice, abuse of power, and identity factors in the elections

The recent off-season governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states have been labeled as yet another missed opportunity to strengthen democracy and restore trust in the electoral process in Nigeria.

Dr. Hussain Abdu, Chair of the Yiaga Africa Watching The Vote (WTV) Working Group, and Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, expressed their disappointment at the failure to deepen democratic practices during Monday’s presentation of the final report on the elections in Abuja.

While commending INEC’s prompt response to reported cases of pre-filled results sheets (EC8A) in Kogi State, Dr. Abdu urged thorough investigations into all allegations of malpractice and misapplication of election laws. He emphasized the need for corrective actions, including the prosecution of implicated INEC staff, to rectify flaws and bolster the integrity of future elections.

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) also criticized the abuse of power by incumbents in the three states. Prof. Adele Jinadu, Chair of CDD-Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), expressed concern over issues such as delayed arrival of electoral materials, malfunctioning Biometric Verification Automated System (BVAS), and the prevalence of disinformation during the elections.

In its comprehensive report, the CDD highlighted the influence of identity factors in the elections, taking various forms, including the ethnic configuration prevalent in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi. This factor, according to the CDD, contributed to the challenges faced in conducting free and fair elections.

As the nation reflects on these electoral outcomes, the call for thorough investigations and corrective measures underscores the urgency of addressing systemic issues to ensure future elections uphold the principles of democracy and foster public confidence.