By Jane Okeke
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has flagged isolated security incidents, incidents of vote trading and inadequate support materials for persons with disabilities in the ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) elections.
The observations were detailed in a statement jointly signed by the Co-Conveners of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Mma Odi and Celestine Odo.
The group reported that a security breach occurred at PU3 Unguwar Liman/Unguwar Liman 1, Abaji Central, as well as at Kpasele JSS Giri II, Gwako, Gwagwalada, where a voter allegedly showed up at a polling unit wielding a cutlass. Youths reportedly challenged the individual before security operatives intervened promptly and escorted him away.
Across several polling units monitored, the Situation Room noted a visible presence of party agents. Although not all political parties were represented at the same time, agents were sighted in multiple locations. At PU026, Kayada Primary School, Kuje, however, a party agent was reportedly observed wearing both a party tag and an INEC Assistant Presiding Officer (APO) jacket, raising questions over potential role conflict.
On the issue of vote buying, the group said the practice was detected in a number of polling units. Specifically, at PU008, 056, 057 and 058 in Gidan Mangoro Ward of AMAC, ballots were allegedly exchanged openly for as much as ₦10,000 per vote. In other areas, the transactions were said to have taken place more discreetly.
The statement also pointed to gaps in the availability of assistive materials for persons with disabilities (PWDs). While Form EC30E meant for deaf voters was present in several polling centres, braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses were largely missing. In Karimajiji, described as a disability colony, none of the required assistive materials — including Form EC30E — was deployed. Likewise, voters with disabilities at PU052, Mombolo Street, Wuse, were reportedly without access to essential voting aids.
Despite the concerns, the Situation Room praised the INEC FCT Help Desk for responding swiftly to matters escalated from its monitoring centre.
The group urged political actors and other stakeholders to preserve the peaceful atmosphere recorded so far and called on security agencies to sustain the professionalism demonstrated as voting winds down and collation commences.
“The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room calls on all stakeholders to maintain the calm observed in the political environment and on security agencies to continue to maintain professionalism as we head to the close of polls and collation,” the statement read.
