Problems Associated With Collation

Election Situation Room

26 April 2011

Election Situation Room Statement:

Problems Associated With Collation Are Now In Danger Of Derailing Gubernatorial Elections

By Clement Nwankwo/Dr Jibrin Ibrahim

As Nigeria holds the gubernatorial and State legislative elections, the

Civil Society Election Situation Room feels compelled to raise a number of

issues that could affect the credibility of the elections on 26 April.

As we pointed out in our final statement on the Presidential election - and

which indeed we raised after the National Assembly elections on 9 April –

the problems associated with collation are now in danger of derailing the

process altogether. The post-election violence associated with the

presidential election was fuelled by the perception among many of the

contenders that the election was won and lost at the point of collation,

and the further perception that the leadership of INEC was unable or

unwilling to exercise proper oversight function over its personnel in the

field. INEC needs to take firm and aggressive action to deal with these

perceptions.