The Case Tracking and Response Centre (CTRC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prioritise the needs of elderly persons, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), pregnant women and nursing mothers in the planning and conduct of future elections.
The centre made the call in its post-election assessment of the Ekiti State Governorship Election, which it monitored through a network of community observers deployed across the 16 local government areas of the state.
In a statement issued on Monday in Ado-Ekiti and signed by the Executive Director of the Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development (BIGIF), Dr Oluwatumininu Adedeji, the centre commended INEC for measures that promoted inclusion during the election.
According to the statement, the election was generally peaceful, with impressive voter turnout among women, elderly persons and PWDs, while pregnant women and nursing mothers were given priority during accreditation and voting in most polling units observed.
It noted that the positive practices reflected progress toward inclusive electoral participation and should be sustained and strengthened in future elections.
The centre also called on INEC to conduct a comprehensive post-election audit of the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and improve technological preparedness ahead of future polls.
According to CTRC, technology has become an integral component of Nigeria’s electoral reforms and remains a commendable tool for achieving greater inclusion and efficiency in the electoral process.
The centre, however, expressed concern over reported cases of vote trading in several polling units, alleging that some incidents occurred close to voting centres and in the presence of security personnel.
It urged INEC, security agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to strengthen collaboration in the investigation and prosecution of electoral offences, particularly vote trading, to safeguard the credibility of future elections and enhance public confidence in the electoral process. (NAN)
