Yiaga: Ward-level collation remains weakest link in Nigeria’s elections after FCT polls
Yiaga Africa has raised concerns over intimidation, logistical setbacks, and disruptions recorded during ward-level collation in Saturday’s area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
In a statement signed by executive director Samson Itodo and director of programmes Cynthia Mbamalu, the organisation said its findings were based on reports from observers deployed to 58 of the 62 ward collation centres across the territory.
Yiaga said collation began between 4 pm and 6 pm in 66 percent of observed centres, while 10 percent started between 6 pm and 9 pm and three percent between 9 pm and midnight. In some wards in Kuje, collation did not commence until the following morning.
The group attributed delays to late arrival of materials from polling units, absence of officials at scheduled times, logistical challenges in transporting sensitive materials, and intimidation by political thugs.
According to Yiaga, 80 percent of centres displayed the notice of results poster for chairmanship elections, while party agents countersigned result forms in 95 percent of locations, though compliance varied among parties.
Observers also reported incidents of unrest. At a collation centre in Gwagwalada, tensions escalated after an argument between a party agent and electoral officials, prompting security operatives to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd.
In Kwali, some residents rejected announced results, leading to unrest and the vandalism of two vehicles believed to belong to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The organisation also said suspected thugs disrupted collation in Kuje Central, forcing officials to relocate and resulting in the removal of result sheets.
Yiaga commended electoral officials and citizens who continued the process despite intimidation. It noted that although the law mandates electronic transmission through the INEC Result Viewing Portal, temporary downtime on the INEC Result Viewing Portal triggered public suspicion.
As of 4:30 pm on Sunday, Yiaga said 2,641 chairmanship results and 2,542 councillorship results out of 2,822 polling units had been uploaded, representing about 94 percent and 90 percent respectively.
Recommendations
The organisation urged INEC to strengthen deployment planning, logistics coordination, communication on voter redistribution, and collation procedures ahead of future elections.
It said the FCT polls reaffirm that ward-level collation remains the most vulnerable yet consequential stage of Nigeria’s electoral process, calling for improvements before upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun as well as the 2027 general elections.
Yiaga also asked security agencies to investigate alleged collusion with political thugs and prosecute offenders, while urging political parties to properly train their agents, avoid deploying thugs near collation centres, and prioritise voter education and mobilisation.
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