Benin, Nigeria – Yiaga Africa, an Election Monitoring Group, on Thursday said it has deployed about 325 trained and accredited observers to monitor Saturday’s governorship election in Edo.
Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, the Chairman of the 2024 Edo Election Mission for Yiaga Africa, said at a pre-election press briefing in Benin that the observers comprised both stationary and roving teams.
Abdullahi noted that out of the total number, 300 observers would be stationed at a randomly selected sample of polling units across the 18 local government areas (LGAs), while the remaining 25 would move around.
She stated that the deployment would be done using the Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology.
“At the end of the polls, Yiaga Africa would also deploy observers to all local government and state collation centres to observe and report the results collation process.
“This deployment will enable Yiaga Africa to provide the most timely and accurate information on the governorship elections in the state.
“Using the PRVT, Yiaga Africa will also provide an independent projection of voter turnout and estimate the vote shares that each party should receive within a narrow range.
“If the official results fall within Yiaga Africa’s estimated ranges, it will affirm the accuracy of the ballots cast at the polling units,” she said.
The chairman, while reading out Yiaga Africa’s Pre-Election Recommendations, urged voters to demonstrate resilience by turning up to vote in their respective polling units.
She further called on voters to resist attempts at vote-buying, intimidation, and manipulation before, during, and after the election.
Yiaga Africa, however, appealed to INEC to demonstrate its capacity to conduct a transparent, credible, and efficient election by managing logistics effectively to enable the early commencement of voting.
Abdullahi urged security agencies to ensure that all deployed personnel strictly adhere to the code of conduct for election security.
“This includes acting professionally without bias, apprehending electoral offenders, and respecting the rights of citizens, media, and observers.
“They must also guarantee that accredited observers and media practitioners have the right to free movement on Election Day,” she added.
She identified Ikpoba-Okha, Oredo, Esan, Ovia South-West, Ovia North-East, Etsako West, and Etsako East as eight local government areas identified as hotspots for violence.
According to her, security agencies should ensure strategic and neutral deployment of security to these areas.
