Yiaga Africa says it observed disregard for the electoral guidelines during the 2021 local government elections in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.
The civil society organisation (CSO) noted that its Watching the Vote (WTV) also observed confusion over the non-inclusion of a contesting party on the ballot, non-deployment of political party agents and voter apathy.
The CSO noted the observations in its ‘Preliminary Statement on 2021 Lagos Local Government Council Election’ report.
Development Diaries reports that the elections took place across the 20 local government areas (LGAs) and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) that make up Nigeria’s commercial hub.
The group, which deployed trained and accredited observers to observe the process across the state, reported that voting cubicles were placed in positions that enabled voters and party agents to monitor how ballot papers were marked by voters.
Yiaga Africa also reported that election officials and essential items arrived late at the majority of the polling units.
Violent disruption of the accreditation and voting process was also reported across polling units in Shomolu LGA, as there was confusion over the inclusion of the name of a political party on the ballot which was not officially recognised.
‘However, July 24, 2021, elections in Lagos State showcased the important role of election management commissions in entrenching women’s participation in the process’, it noted.
‘Yiaga Africa commends the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission’s (LASIEC) deliberate deployment of women as polling officials across the LGAs and LCDAs.
‘As reported by Yiaga Africa’s Watching the Vote, on average, one of two polling officials at the polling units observed was a woman.
‘While the LASIEC may have achieved the successful deployment of female officials, there are still opportunities to deepen women’s participation in the electoral process, especially by the political parties’.
It called on LASIEC to review its guidelines for elections to ensure clarity and uniformity of practice in electoral administration.
Source: Yiaga Africa
Photo source: Yiaga Africa
