Reading the final report of their observation on the just concluded councillorship election held last Saturday, Julius Freeman, vice chair of NERG also recommends that IEC should avoid using health centers as polling stations as was the case with the Ebo Town Badala Polling Station.
“IEC should ensure adequate training for their staff to provide efficient election services. In this regard IEC is encouraged to make use of technology for effective compilation and timely release of election result.”
He further stated that “given the technical and institutional challenges, there is need for urgent legal and institutional reforms’ to modernise the electoral system for greater efficiency, transparency and accountability in elections.
He also observed the need for political parties to assume their responsibilities as key electoral stakeholders in maintaining the integrity of the electoral system by adhering to electoral laws and standards and promoting popular participation and intra-party democracy.
“Stakeholders should continue and expand on voter education, especially on the significance of local government elections. Furthermore, we reiterate the need to equip the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) with adequate human, financial and material resources to continue to deliver civic and voter education countrywide.” he added.
Freeman, however, flagged that they are concerned with the low voter turnout in the just concluded Local Government elections.
“In this respect, we wish to urge voters to recognise and appreciate the importance of every election in their lives and take very active part in them. Similarly, we wish to urge everyone to refrain from hate speech, violence and any acts that have the potential to undermine social cohesion and unity, and the integrity and peaceful conduct of the elections.”
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