…We’re on fact finding, voter education mission to Adamawa state ahead of April 15 governorship supplementary elections…
…We’ve written to the governorship candidates, political parties’ state offices, INEC and security agencies for courtesy calls. Where we’ve not visited we’re not given a welcome signal…
The Coalition of INEC Accredited Domestic Election Observers have reacted to the allegation of ulterior motives, purely supportive of the Adamawa state governor’s reelection bit that was thrown, following the groups’ visit to Adamawa state and the press release held.
Responding to the newsmen Monday in Yola, the Northeast coordinator of the coalition, Alhaji Mukhtar Hammajoda said contrary to the mischievous disinformation intended to discredit the essence and legitimacy of the groups and disregard its activities as “the Heads of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) duly accredited Domestic Election Observer Groups for the Nigeria 2023 General Elections,” they were on a fact finding mission to Adamawa State ahead of the April 15, 2023 supplementary election and Opinion Poll Exercise to know the level of preparedness of relevant stakeholders for a peaceful credible and transparent supplementary election in the state.
“We’ve earlier written to the relevant stakeholders, requesting for courtesy calls namely, the INEC Adamawa state, the executive Governor, the APC governorship candidate, the PDP and APC secretariats and the security agencies.
“We’re granted audience by the Adamawa state Governor, the leadership of the PDP, the Adamawa state Police Command and the INEC, represented by the Director Operations of the Political umpire who revealed the inability of the REC to receive us. All these efforts were witnessed by the newsmen
“The secretary of the APC who received the letter requesting for the courtesy would have to reschedule the meeting about three times. When on the third attempt to meet the APC leadership, the secretary, in a telephone conversation, said they have closed for the day. We were also informed that the APC Governorship Candidate was in Abuja, therefore, we resolved to meet her there.
“It is therefore misleading to report that we had a private meeting with the state Governor who is seeking to be reelected, which suggested that the integrity of our exercise has been compromised,” Hammanjoda said.
Hammanjoda revealed that on arrival in Adamawa, the coalition visited Fufore and Numan, where, according to INEC, supplementary elections would be held in some polling units, before embarking on the courtesy calls.
Hammanjoda said during the previous elections the coalition had “deployed our members to Adamawa State for the elections and they have reported accordingly. I’ve compiled the observations, which I’ll be in Abuja today to have it submitted today.
“Our aim is to discourage election violence, to engage in voter education to be able to attract large turnout of the electorate and to encourage peaceful conduct of the April 15 supplementary elections rather than promoting a particular candidate as was mischievously alleged.
“To ensure peaceful conduct of the supplementary elections, we pleaded with the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Adamawa State to boldly and courageously engage the political stakeholders, particularly political parties/candidates on a public stakeholders meeting and give them his assurances and the commission’s commitment for a credible, free and fair Supplementary election come 15 April, 2023. By so doing, he will dowse the growing political tension and uncertainty in the state ahead of the supplementary election.
“We also assured that we’ll ensure we station not less than two observer members at every designated polling unit,” Hammanjoda said.