Poll: Coalitions urge INEC to address underage, commercial activities at polling units

The accredited Coalition of Election Observer Groups by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have called on the electoral body to address the issue of underage presence around polling units during election.
This is just as it has further called for the observance of commercial activities in major polling units at the just concluded Patigi state Assembly Constituency bye-election in Kwara state calling on the body to address the issue in its future elections in the state.
The groups made the observation while addressing newsmen through its spokesman, Comrade Victor Kalu on Sunday.
The coalition adjudged the Saturday’s by-election as free, fair, credible and transparent.
“There was an obvious all-round improvement on the part of INEC regarding the conduct of the last Saturday bye-election at Patigi state constituency,” he said.
“The exercise took place as scheduled under a conducive and peaceful atmosphere, without any complaints whatsoever from political parties and candidates in terms of the credibility of the election.
“There was an obvious all-round improvement on the part of INEC regarding the timely distribution of election materials and its arrival in various polling units resulting in timely commencement of election in all the units,” he added.
The coalition appreciated the people of Patigi State Constituency for their proper conduct during and after the election, especially for showing maturity and putting away the stings of violence.
They observed that the turnout of voters for the election was impressive but relatively low in some areas due to inadequate voter sensitization and mobilization for the election by all concerned stakeholders.
“The Patigi State Constituency Bye-election actually took place as scheduled on the 14th March, 2020 across the entire constituency,” he explained.
They called on government and the election management body to consider engaging committed Civil Society groups on intensive civic voter education, sensitization and mobilization ahead of every election to encourage voter participation in elections.