Presidential, NASS elections largely peaceful – CSOs

The Global Economic Policy Initiative and Initiative to Save Democracy have lauded INEC and security agencies for a “largely peaceful and orderly general election.”

In separate statements issues yesterday, the civil society organisations hailed Nigerians for their belief in democracy and their determination to ensure that their votes counted.

The Global Economic Policy Initiative Chairman, Bernard Okri, said the observations made from its situation room showed that the voter turnout was largely impressive given the postponement of the election and the presumption that there would be voter apathy as a result.

Okri who said INEC had proven itself a credible electoral umpire despite the postponement of the elections, added that with 71 presidential candidates on the ballot sheet and over 80 million registered voters, the electoral body had a very difficult job which it did well going by the turn out of events.

“Despite violence in some areas in states like Benue, Rivers, Lagos, Zamfara and Ebonyi, the general outlook of the elections was largely peaceful; security agents were seen across polling units,” he said.

“We commend INEC for the job done. It was tough, tedious and with a tyranny of expectations, they were able to pull through across the country,” the statement also read.