Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve disability provision in election conduct in the country.
Yiaga Africa, leading the election-monitoring groups, also urged INEC to improve training for ad hoc officials on disability provisions and upgrade its electoral technology for optimal functionality.
The recommendation was contained in a report entitled Process and Results Statement on the 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election, made available to LEADERSHIP in Abuja, yesterday.
The group emphasised the need for INEC to prioritise ballot secrecy and enforce electoral guidelines, particularly accessibility for voters with disabilities.
“Polling units should be set up to allow easy access for voters with disabilities, with magnifying glasses and braille ballot guides provided as needed,” the report stated.
Yiaga Africa also stressed the importance of completing Form EC 40H during every election to ensure proper documentation of disability-related interventions.
The report further called on state authorities to make public facilities more disability-friendly and security agencies to intensify efforts in arresting and prosecuting election offenders, particularly those involved in voter inducement and vote buying.
“Political parties and candidates must abandon the culture of impunity and refrain from practices that undermine the integrity of the electoral process,” the report added.
Yiaga Africa encouraged issue-based election participation and urged political parties to promote gender-inclusive leadership by electing women into critical positions.
INEC Declares Gov Aiyedatiwa Winner of Ondo Poll
The Independent National Electoral Commission (IN EC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the winner of the 2024 governorship election in the state.
The returning officer of the governorship poll, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, said Aiyedatiwa polled 366,781 votes to beat his closest challenger, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, who scored 117,845 votes,
He noted that there was a court order regarding the Labour Party (LP) saying that the candidate’s name should be substituted with Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus, who scored 1162.
He read out the respective scores of all the candidates.
“Aiyedatiwa Lucky Orimisan of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is now declared the winner, and he is returned elected,” he said.
The final results showed that Governor Aiyedatiwa won in all 18 local government areas in the state, including his rival’s.
In his acceptance speech after the declaration, Governor Aiyedatiwa promised to work tirelessly to justify the trust the state’s people reposed in me.
He commended INEC for conducting a free, fair, and credible election and lauded security agencies for being professional in their efforts to maintain peace throughout the exercise.
He states, ”As your governor, I promise to continue to run an inclusive and participatory government, where every citizen has a voice and an opportunity to contribute to our collective progress.
“We will continue to prioritise the welfare of our people, foster economic growth, and ensure that our state remains a beacon of hope and prosperity for generations to come. Now that the elections are over, it is time to rededicate ourselves to the service of our dear state.”
The governors extended a hand of fellowship to the opposition parties and invited them to collaborate with him in building a better Ondo State for the overall good of the people.
Meanwhile, APC national chairman Umar Ganduje yesterday expressed confidence in the party’s ability to expand its dominance in the South-West region.
Speaking on the party’s plans, Ganduje declared that the APC’s next focus was to reclaim Osun and Oyo states, which are currently under the leadership of the PDP.
For his part, Lagos State Governor and chairman of the APC National Campaign Council Babajide Sanwo-Olu commended the people of Ondo State for their peaceful nature, saying the election was smooth and that other states should emulate it.
Some governors elected on the APC platform were on the ground to congratulate the governor on his victory at the poll. They include Borno State governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum; Imo State governor, Hope Uzodima, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwolu, Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasak, Prince Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Benue State governor, Hycinth Alia and Cross River State governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Ovie Omo-Agege and other party chieftains were on hand to celebrate with Governor Aiyedatiwa,
Meanwhile, a civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, has described the results as declared by INEC as consistent with its PRVT findings.
Addressing journalists after the election results declaration, Ezenwa Nwagwu, chairman 2024 Ondo Election Mission, said, “Based on reports from 286 of 300 (95%) sampled polling units, Yiaga Africa’s statistical analysis shows that the APC should receive about 72.1% ”
He said, “Therefore, the PRVT findings reveal that the results announced by INEC for all 18 LGAs are consistent with the PRVT estimates for the governorship election in Ondo State. Had the official results been changed at the ward, LGA, or state collation centres, they would not have fallen within the Yiaga Africa WTV estimated ranges.
“Because the official results fall within the estimated ranges, governorship contestants, parties, and voters should have confidence that the official results for the 2024 Ondo governorship election reflect the ballots cast at polling units,” it said.
Yiaga Africa, however, recommended that INEC take deliberate steps to protect the secrecy of the ballot and enforce its electoral guidelines, especially regarding this issue.
“INEC should ensure that the BVAS is consistently updated and upgraded to ensure optimal functionality. INEC should ensure that the ad-hoc officials are adequately trained on disability provisions for each election. This includes ensuring the polling units are set up in a manner that enables access for voters with ‘disability, the magnifying glasses and braille ballot guide are provided to voters who need them and the form EC 40H is duly completed in every election.”
For his part, Deputy-inspector general of police Sylvester Abiodun Alabi praised the meticulous efforts of officers which ensured that the process was peaceful, free, and credible.
The police boss, however, reported that some arrests were made during the electoral process but that the incidents were inconsequential as the security agents deployed were able to take charge of the situations effectively.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused APC of spending over N35 billion on vote buying to win the governorship poll.
Hon. Olaniyi Ogungbuji, who signed as the PDP agent at the state collation centre, stated this while addressing newsmen after INEC declared Aiyedatiwa the election winner.
He said, “My reaction to this election is this: in the history of elections in Nigeria, I have never seen elections so monetarily induced. If it is the future of Nigeria, I think we still have a long way to go.”
But the APC agent, Hon. Ade Adeogun, said the election was not only peaceful but also acceptable to all.
Adeogun said an olive branch would be extended to the losing contestants from other political parties to join hands with the APC government to develop the state.
We Are Reviewing Outcome Of Poll – PDP
Reflecting on its loss of Ondo State governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it just witnessed the worst election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party said the Ondo State election fell short of all expectations and requirements of a free, fair and credible election as it witnessed the height of electoral swindle, deceit and manipulation by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The national publicity secretary of the PDP, Hon Debo Ologungaba, said the election witnessed widespread election merchandising, monetisation, and barefaced vote buying by the APC and its apparatus in government to suppress the genuine aspirations of the people.
In a post-election statement, Ologungaba said: “This devious practice by the APC was rampant and pervasive because the APC has utterly impoverished Nigerians and turned poverty into a weapon of mass subjugation which enabled it to manipulate the election and its outcome,” he said.
According to him, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP would review the election and its outcome and take appropriate action to defend democracy.
Tinubu Congratulates Aiyedatiwa, Advocates for Post-Election Harmony
President Bola Tinubu has felicitated the winner of Saturday’s Ondo State Governorship election, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress, and commended the peaceful conduct of the process.
In a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President congratulated Aiyedatiwa and other candidates of the 17 political parties for the maturity and sense of purpose demonstrated during the campaigns and the election, attributing the success of the polls to the civility in the state.
He enjoined the political actors to allow their orderly conduct to permeate the post-election activities and processes.
President Tinubu said the Ondo State election was another litmus test of the capacity of INEC, and affirmed that the electoral body justified the confidence of the people with early preparations, deployment of staff and materials, and handling of the electoral process.
The president also commended INEC for the efficiency of uploading more than 98 per cent of results on the same day of the election.
Buhari Hails APC Victory, Calls for Economic Reforms
Also, former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed happiness with APC’s success in the governorship election in Ondo State, which returned Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyeditawa with a landslide victory.
In his reaction to the election outcome, the former President, in a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, said the voters had spoken lucidly and loudly about their confidence in the party and the governor, and their wishes expressed through the ballot box should be respected by other stakeholders.
President Buhari commended INEC and law enforcement agencies for their efforts in reducing shortcomings observed in previous elections.
