Yiaga Africa, an election observation group, has condemned the alleged rigging of the Edo State governorship election held on September 21, 2024.
The group said it deployed 300 stationary and 25 roving observers across the 18 local government areas to monitor the election.
Yiaga Africa in post election statement signed by Dr. Aisha Abdullahi , Chairman,Edo 2024 Election Mission and Mr Samson Itodo,Executive Director,Yiaga Africa, which was made available to journalist in Benin expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in the results collation process, which led to the manipulation of results.
The group said it’s statistical analysis showed inconsistencies in the official results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly in Oredo, Egor, Esan West, and Ikpoba/Okha local government areas.
The statement reads in part: “Yiaga Africa condemns acts of violence and disruption of voting and results collation process by political thugs and hoodlums, particularly violence directed at voters and election officials. These unwholesome acts undermine the integrity of the elections.
“Yiaga Africa extends its sympathies to citizens and polling officials who suffered severe injuries and loss of valuable properties due to these attacks and violence.
“Yiaga Africa calls on security agencies to thoroughly investigate these cases of attacks and intimidation against voters and polling officials.Statement on INEC’s official results.
“Yiaga Africa’s estimates are based on official results announced at the polling unit, from a representative random sample of polling units.
“As highlighted in our pre-election report, Yiaga Africa will amongst other factors consider the quality of election day processes in assessing whether the 2024 Edo governorship satisfies the electoral integrity test.
“In this regard, Yiaga Africa considered the integrity of accreditation, voting, counting, and collation of results.
“INEC consistently applied its guidelines in managing the accreditation and voting process in a significant number of polling units.
“Despite some isolated incidents of inadequate election materials, the BVAS machines functioned optimally, and all voters in the queue by 2:30pm were allowed to vote, despite the late opening of polls.
“The polling officials uploaded polling unit results on the IReV in a timely manner, making it possible for citizens to access polling unit level results.
“The incidents of results manipulation and disruptions during ward and local government collation in Ikpoba/Okha, Etsako West, Egor and Oredo LGAs, including intimidation of INEC officials, observers and party agents and the collation of results contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines, severely undermine the credibility of the election results.
“Inconsistencies in the officially announced results based on reports received from the sampled polling units, Yiaga Africa can project the expected vote shares for each party within a narrow margin.
“However, Yiaga Africa is only able to verify the election outcome if it falls within its estimated margins. If the official results do not fall within Yiaga Africa’s estimated ranges, then the results may have been manipulated.
According to INEC, the All Progressive Congress (APC) received 51.1% of the votes, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) 43.3% of the votes, and the Labor Party garnered 4.0% of the votes. Based on reports from 287 of 300 (96%) sampled polling units,
Yiaga Africa’s statistical analysis shows inconsistencies in the official results announced by INEC. For instance, the official results announced by INEC for APC in Oredo and Egor, LGAs fall outside the PRVT estimate. In Esan West LGA, the official results for PDP fall outside the PRVT estimates.”
Yiaga Africa also noted that while the accreditation, voting, counting, and recording of results at the polling units substantially complied with procedures, the results collation process was compromised by biased INEC officials and security personnel. The group condemned acts of violence and disruption of voting and results collation processes by political thugs and hoodlums.
The group also recommended the immediate investigation and prosecution of polling officials and collation officers engaged in results manipulation and flagrant violations of guidelines. Yiaga Africa also called on INEC to clarify inconsistencies in some results and issue detailed guidelines for reviewing declarations and returns made contrary to electoral laws.
Additionally, Yiaga Africa advocated for the integration of electronic transmission of results into the electoral legal framework to confer legality on polling unit level results uploaded on the portal. The group commended the resilience and patience of voters who turned out despite logistical challenges and rainfall but noted that voter turnout was low, with only 22.4% of voters exercising their civic rights.
