TheCable

The ECOWAS Observer Mission (EOM) has said that Saturday’s presidential and parliamentary elections conformed to acceptable standard and meet the criteria of being free and transparent.

John Kuffour, the mission’s head and former president of Ghana, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, security agencies and various entities that contributed to the exercise in one way or the other deserve commendation.

He said the turnout of voters was impressive, lauding women and young people for participating in the exercise and displaying commendable level of patience and discipline.

“Security agents were present at most of the polling stations and on patrols in and around the cities as peaceful atmosphere prevailed in most parts of the country,” he said.

Kuffour also noted that INEC officials demonstrated good knowledge and compliance with voting procedures.

He also noted that agents of the major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were in attendance in most polling units.

“The process of counting at the polling stations and the subsequent collations at designated centres were successful and in accordance with the electoral act,” he said.

“Some of the challenges the mission observed during the exercise included the late arrival of INEC officials in many polling stations and malfunctioning of card readers across the country.”

However, the mission observed that there were insufficient or non-availability of electoral materials in some polling units, leading to delay in accreditation and voting processes.

“Cases of attempt to snatch ballot papers were reported in some polling stations leading to instances of uproar, shootings and sporadic violence in the affected polling stations,” he said.

“Despite efforts by the relevant agencies to secure the electoral exercise, explosions were also recorded in some parts of the country.”

EOM is part of sustained efforts of ECOWAS to support the consolidation of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.