Last weekend I was part of a team from the British High Commission, joined by US and German colleagues who travelled to Rivers State, Nigeria to observe the Rivers State re run elections. The elections in Rivers State are notoriously problematic (this was the third attempt at running the elections here), but we hoped that things would be different this time. I felt proud to be part of a team working to further embed democracy and stability in Nigeria.
Prior to the elections we met with party leaders and the local INEC Chairman to urge for credible elections. High Commissioner Paul Arkwright gave an interview on local radio, calling for free and fair elections, and the UK, US, EU and French Ambassadors issued a joint statement.
On the day although things started late, the first polling units we visited were calm. Locals we spoke to reassured us that all was “fine and calm this time.” At one unit we were greeted by cheering – people were thrilled their elections had gone ahead smoothly. Unfortunately that was not the whole picture. There were INEC officials held for hours by security agencies, not able to deliver voting materials. At the collation centre we visited we heard reports of ballot snatching, intimidation and violence and we were dismayed to hear of shootings and reports that 2 people had been killed. At our end of day round up we were all disappointed that things had turned out the way they did.
Since the elections there have been accusations of corruption, intimidation, violence and vote rigging by both parties and the credibility of the elections has been called into question by civil society organisations. We can only hope that the Government and INEC take the necessary steps to ensure things improve for the Presidential elections in 2019.