Bola Badmus
The Nigerian Human Rights Community (NIHRCO), a coalition of 130 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and community-based organisations, have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the residents of Lagos State for the peaceful conduct of the Governorship and House of Assembly election held last Saturday.
NIHRCO gave this commendation on Thursday at a press conference held in Maryland, Lagos, while taking an overview of the poll exercise, just as it noted that before the election, there was much trepidation and fear in the state.
The coalition had deployed 680 observers to many of the 13, 390 and 245 wards in the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state to monitor last Saturday’s poll exercise.
Reading the report of the group, its Coordinator, Mr Taiwo Adeleye, said the exercise was preceded by ethnic and religious baiting, but quickly added that such occurrence did not result in any major confrontation between the political parties as Lagosians still came out to vote.
The presentation was supported by members of the Nigerians in Diaspora and South West Professional Forum (SOWPROF) led by Nosa Osaikhuiwu, a Project Management Expert from the Colorado State University, who spoke through zoom, describing the election in Lagos State as one of the best in the country and a model for future elections in Nigeria.
Adeleye, while noting that there were some skirmishes, like snatching of ballot boxes, harassment and a report of the killing of one person, posited that those development were not sufficient reasons to rubbish the election in the state, declaring that it was wrong for some people to condemn the outcome of the poll exercise.
“The election was preceded by ethnic and religious baiting. This did not result in any major confrontation between the parties. Residents of Lagos State, despite that, the people still came out to vote.
“There were some skirmishes like snatching of ballot boxes, harassment and report of the killing of one person. Those developments were not sufficient reasons to rubbish the election.
“There is no election all over the world that is 100 per cent perfect,” he said.
The Coordinator commended the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for moving around the state before the election to calm fray nerves, just as he commended the security personnel for maintaining law and orderliness during the election.
He commended the political leadership of the state government, saying that its commitment to a free and fair election eliminated acts of violence compared with previous elections in the state when lives were lost “often due to the might of the Federal power’s forceful attempt at influencing the outcome of the elections.”
Osaikhuiwu, a Project Management Expert from the Colorado State University, who spoke through zoom on behalf of SOWPROF and members in the diaspora, said he followed the elections in Lagos, declaring it as one of the best in the country.
“I m glad to speak to the audience. We Nigerians abroad are glad about the peaceful conduct of the election in Lagos.
“This offers tremendous opportunity for Lagos to continue her leadership role as the most significant city-state in Africa,” Osaikhuiwu said.
“We urge stakeholders to stop stoking the embers of violence which is an ill wind that blows no one any good. We call on INEC to improve the number of polling units in Lagos.
“The distance between one polling unit and the other should be addressed. We call on INEC to make provisions for vulnerable communities, pregnant women, People Living With Disabilities, and PLWD in future elections.
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