Abuja, March 19, 2023 – Yiaga Africa, one of the election observer teams, says the the governorship and House of Assembly elections were marred by rigging, violence and voter suppression.
Ezenwa Nwagwu, a member of the team, said this on Sunday in Abuja during the group’s post-election press conference on the governorship and state assembly elections.
he said that the team observed manipulation of governorship election by agents of the Peoples Democratic party in one local government areas in Abia State.
Nwagwu alleged that the PDP agents, in connivance with security agents, entered Obingwa LGA results collation centre in Abia State, chased everyone out and compelled INEC officials to change figures in favour of their candidates.
“In Abia State, Obingwa LGA results collation centre, party agents for the PDP and security agents asked observers and other party agents, APC, Accord and APGA to exit the collation centre.
“Presiding officers were also forced to alter the figures on form EC8A in favour of the PDP
The group said that in general, the elections were marred by voter suppression, electoral violence and impunity, vote buying and capture of the results management system by political thugs in Delta, Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kano and Taraba states.
“Yiaga Africa is saddened by cases of attacks of voters, INEC officials, election observers and personnel of the EFCC by political thugs.
“Reports also indicated an average of eight fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours.
“These election-related deaths are unacceptable, highly condemnable.
“It is important for security agents to hold the political thugs and their sponsors accountable for these deaths and attacks,” the team said.
