Observers hail INEC, declare Yobe gov’ship poll credible

A coalition of INEC accredited election observers who monitored the just concluded governorship election in Yobe State has rated the exercise as free, fair and credible.

A statement signed and issued, yesterday, in Abuja by the coalition’s group leader, Okoi Tina, said despite the belief that Yobe State was an insurgency prone state, the exercise “went well and credible.”

The observers lauded the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its neutrality during the poll.

According to the coalition, the turnout of voters was commendable and the state seemed to have enhanced voter education.

“As a coalition of INEC accredited election observers to Yobe State, we the undersigned, having duly performed our duties as INEC accredited observers through and thoroughly in Yobe State, undertake to address this world press conference on the true situation of the general elections in the state.

“We take this as a duty to inform the general public that the elections held in Yobe State were free, fair, smooth and rancour free in all of its ramifications.

“As against the initial public opinion and general belief that Yobe State, having been an insurgency prone area, could pose a major threat to peaceful, free, and fair elections, the state was quite in a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere throughout the elections.

“Except for the insignificant skirmish that took place at the outskirts of Gaidam area, of which the Nigerian military quickly nipped in the bud, there was no incidence of any fracas or election related violence whatsoever.

“Electoral rules and guidelines were adequately followed. The usual party agent rancour that had always been the situation in any well contested election was totally absent as all party agents seemed to have known what they were expected to do at all times,” read the statement.