Election Observers Laud INEC, Security Agents In Kano

By Abdullateef Jos

International and local observers in the  Presidential and National Assembly elections in Kano have lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for ensuring free, peaceful and violent free elections across the state.

At a joint news conference in Kano on Tuesday, South African-based Pan African Women Project and Nigerian-based Center for Intervention, expressed satisfaction and appreciated INEC and security agencies for not perfoming below expectation

According to Spokesperson of Pan African Women Project, Belinda Maduna, “Elections began at  scheduled time, with unbelievable turnout, notwithstanding earlier postponement of the polls by INEC at most of the polling units visited during the elections.”

Belinda Maduna  said that the group was pleased that election materials arrived most of the polling units in good time, but expressed regret that quite a number of voters could not vote, even with their PVCs, as they could not find their names on the voters’ register and malfunctioning of Smart Card Readers in some cases.

She added that about 70 percent of voters began accreditation as early as 8 am, a development she described as encouraging.

Also , Deputy National Coordinator of  Center for Intervention, Dr. Ibrahim Baba, decried the Bebeji pre-election violence in the state that claimed lives and property worth millions lost , noting that such incident discouraged voters, particularly, women from voting.

He  however, commended Kano electorate for their peaceful conduct during the election.