By Oludamisi Ojo
Addressing reporters during a media round table discussion held in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, a top Yiaga’s Board member , Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, said the high number of personnel deployments, is to ensure that the votes of the electorate count.
He noted that Yiaga will be introducing a novel approach tagged ‘Watch The Votes Initiative (WTV)’, to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other state actors, align with international best practices in conducting the much-awaited poll.
Nwagwu described Ekiti as unique because of its history and for having the highest number of educated people in the country.
He said Nigerians are expecting high ethical conduct in this election taking cognizance of these lofty attainments.
Nwagwu described the WTV as a technology-driven initiative that would be deployed for Parallel Votes Tabulation to ascertain the authenticity of votes being counted to expose fraud, rigging, and manipulation.
He preached against violence which had been considered an impediment to the growth of Nigeria’s democracy.
Nwagwu said such a tendency always necessitated apathy that affects the electoral system.
He said: “A total of 250 observers will be deployed in pairs to monitor polling units. We will also have 25 roving WTV observers and another 16 that will be stationed toinin the 16 local government areas.
“Their tasks are to monitor accreditation process, voting, counting and collation of results and the announcements at various levels.
“Our task as a reputable election observer group is to ensure that we build confidence in the citizens and let them be restricts assured that their votes will count.
“However, Nigerian democracy is making progress and our role as stakeholders is to continue to inspire confidence in the citizens and let them know that the best form of government is a democracy, despite all the challenges.
“If it is about dividends of democracy, the military also provides that. Some of the edifices and Infrastructures in the Federal Capital Territory were provided by the military, but we all jumped out of our houses and said we didn’t want them. That is why we must defend this democracy”.
Smart Adeyemi urges FG to award contracts, build new refineries
He described INEC as pivotal and critical to the success of the poll.
Yiaga Project Manager, Mr. James Paul, tasked the commission to be well prepared for the coming electoral battle.
He said any infraction from the umpire could mar the process and plunge Ekiti into crisis.
The Yiaga Project Manager, urged the electorate to resist vote-buying, saying it represents an evil that is currently plaguing good governance and stalling participatory democracy in the country.
He said the observer’s group would monitor INEC and political parties’ preparedness for the poll, stressing that pre-election preparations largely determine the success of any election.
