The Head of the African Union (AU) Observation Mission, former Prime
Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, has said Saturday’s
presidential and National Assembly elections were generally peaceful and
orderly.
Hailemariam Desalegn |
Desalegn observed this while leading a team of observers to some
polling units in the FCT and said there were a number of observers in
major geographic regions across the country.
The former prime minister said the observation mission was in line
with the African Charter for Democracy, Elections and Governance and the
charter on Election Observation and Code of Conduct.
”Our observation mission is deployed in major geographic regions in
Nigeria and our observation so far is that this election is being
conducted in a generally peaceful and orderly manner so far from the
reports we are getting.
”There are some areas which need some attention, especially on delay in the time.
”We observed in some of the polling stations (the voting time) was
delayed for an hour, 45 minutes but of course it started and we will
see, at the end of this election, if all the voters are satisfied and
got the chance to elect their candidate.”
The head of mission said the postponement of the general elections by
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) contributed to the
process being peaceful, calm and orderly.
He also expressed hope in the ability of INEC to solve the few issues that were identified.
”There was a delay of materials in one polling station called Nyanya
and voting did not start and I think is one of the hiccups we hope INEC
is going to solve expeditiously as possible.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Desalegn and his team set out at 7.30 a.m. to eight polling units in the FCT.
The team visited PU 009 in Wuse Zone 3 Government Secondary School,
and PU 001, Tudun Wada Government Secondary School and PU 026 in Maitama
Model Secondary School.
Other units visited were PU 005 Gwarimpa Village, PU 024 Gwarimpa
Estate, Gishiri, PU 001 in Junior Secondary School Orozo, PU 014 Jikwoyi
Primary School and the polling unit at Area 10 Post Office.
The head of mission was accompanied to Nigeria by a seven-member team
including Madam Minata Cessouma, Commissioner for Political Affairs, AU
Commissioners who is also the Deputy Head of Mission.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that almost 60 election observers were deployed to different states in the federation.
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