A Citizen-led movement committed to credible election under the Watching The Vote (WTV), better known as Yiaga Africa has released its report on Saturday governorship election in Edo State.

It said governorship election recorded a significant improvement on the Kogi and Bayelsa States  elections.

Cynthia Mbamalu, Director of Programme, Yiaga Africa disclosed this at a post election Press Conference on Sunday in Benin City.

She however called on the electoral body to improve on the training of adhoc Officials especially on election day.

She also called on the winner of the election and supporters to be maganimous in victory even as he urged the loser to  accept the result because it reflected the voters casted.

The group also called on the political parties and Nigerians to show political and to maintain the peace.

“Given the significant of procedural infractions around counting of spoilt and counterfoil ballot paper, Yiaga Africa recommends better training for election day by INEC adhoc officials. While, these do not undermine the integrity of the process, they are a sign that election day officials’ training can be improved.

“Yiaga Africa knows that the Edo governorship election is an improvement on Kogi and Bayelsa governorship  elections and recommendsINEC takes all necessary steps to address challenges seen in the election before the Ondo governorship election on October 10, 2020.

“Yiaga encourages INEC to address logistical challenges observed relating to late commencement of polls for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State.

“Inaddition, INEC should ensure that it enforces adherence to the  COVID – 19 health protocols in Ondo election.

“The National Assembly should accelerate reforms to the Electoral Act to legalize electronic transmission of results as the INEC results viewing portal deployed to the election has demonstrated how Citizens’ access to polling unit results increases the intergrity of the electoral process and encourages acceptability of electoral outcomes”, the group said.

The group commended the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II and the National Peace Committee for responding to the call by Stakeholders on the threat of violence, adding that the intervention contributed in no small measure to the peaceful conduct of the election.  

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