Iaga Africa has sounded the alarm about the alleged movement of small arms in rivers. The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigerian and World News
Election monitoring group Yaga Africa warned of the proliferation of light arms and small arms in Rivers state.
The group received disturbing reports of light arms and small arms proliferation in Abua Odual, Andoni, Akku Tol, Asari Tol, Ereme, Gokana, Khana, and Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Thailand in Rivers Province. said.
He said the recruitment of the lower house candidate for the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni state constituency has created a tense atmosphere ahead of the state elections.
Iaga Africa said at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday during the presentation of the 3rd Electoral Manipulation Risk Index (EMRI) supported by the European Union through Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN). pointed out this.
The group said it would deploy 1,547 properly trained and certified fixed and mobile observers to witness gubernatorial elections take place in 28 states.
Esenwa Nwaguwu, a member of the Iaga Africa Board, said some states tend to have conversations that provoke ethnic and religious tensions, especially after the Feb. 25 elections.
“Yiaga Africa will introduce a parallel vote counting (PVT) technique to observe gubernatorial elections in Benue, Delta and Kano states. There were no reports of any major concerns.
‗Furthermore, Iaga Africa made disturbing reports of the proliferation of light arms and small arms in Abua Odual, Andoni, Akku Tol, Asari Tol, Ereme, Gokana, Khana, and the LGA of Thailand in Rivers Province. received.
“A congressional candidate for the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni state constituency is said to have been kidnapped in Rivers state. These incidents have created a tense atmosphere ahead of the state elections.
“In some states, especially after the February 25 elections, conversations tended to provoke ethnic and religious tensions. We have received reports of repeated incidents of clashes between pastoralists and farmers in the Ayti community and in the Mkomon, Moon, Mbaikyor and Liev1 communities of the Kwande LGA.”
Meanwhile, Cynthia Mbamalu, Director of Programs at Yiaga Africa, said the naira shortage could lead to logistical challenges for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which could affect the quality of the process. said.
She said, “This is despite the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s promise to make available all the cash needed for effective logistics deployment. We are concerned that if not addressed, the Commission may experience further logistical problems that will undoubtedly affect the quality of the process.”
Mbamal also expressed concern about the possible low voter turnout on Saturday.
“Yaga Africa is concerned that low voter turnout in presidential elections will be repeated in gubernatorial elections. Poor voter education, and the lingering effects of naira shortages, could affect voter turnout,” she said.