The Ebonyi State Coordinator of Civil Society Organisations, Dr Okezie Kelechi, has recommended electronic voting as the best form of election for Nigeria, saying this would reduce the lapses in the organisation of the exercise . Okezie made the recommendation during the presentation of preliminary report of the CSOs on the just-concluded general elections in Abakaliki, the state capital.
His suggestion came as the Executive Secretary, Development and Integrity Intervention Goal Foundation (DIG), Mr Oliver Ajah, challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission to provide explanations for the obvious disparities observed during the 2019 general elections in Ebonyi State.
DIG was a member of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room which took part in observing the 2019 general elections in the state through its domestic observers deployed across the 171 political wards.
The organisation maintained that the worst of all disparities observed during the just concluded general elections in Ebonyi state was in the area of number of registered voters for the presidential/ National Assembly elections and that of the Governorship/State House of Assembly elections.
According to Ajah, the number of registered voters for Presidential/National Assembly elections for Afikpo South local government area was 72,343 while that of governorship/state House of Assembly from the same local government was 75,767 with increase of 3,424 voters.
“At Ishielu LGA, we got 111251 and 104387 for 23rd February and 9th March elections respectively; decrease of 6864 voters .In Afikpo North, we had 101,456 as against 101,599; increase of 143 voters.
“In Ivo LGA, it was 61247 as against 60523,decrease of 724 voters. In Ohaozra LGA, it was 84,079 difference from 84,683 recorded for Governorship \ State House of Assembly elections, an increase of 604 voters. Ebonyi local government area, it was 111, 917 as against 109593,a decrease of 2324 number of voters. In Onicha LGA, 95,631 against 108,457, increase of 12826 voters.
” Ohaukwu LGA, 155895 against 150303, decrease of 5592 voters .Ezza
North, 94244 against 98,181; increase of 3937 voters. Ezza South, 90,115 as against 89330 voters. Izzi LGA, 149,196 against 150564. Ikwo, 118, 117 against 151701; increase of 3124 voters.
