The European Union has condemned the reported incidents of violence and voter intimidation in Bayelsa and Kogi States during last Saturday’s elections.
The Union in a statement by the Diplomatic Watch also expressed alarm at the reports of fatalities and missing people, even as it urged stakeholders to call for calm.
The statement read: “We express our alarm at reports of widespread incidents of violence and intimidation, some of which were witnessed by our teams in Kogi. There are reports of fatalities and people missing, including INEC staff. Our thoughts are with all victims and their families.
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“We encourage all stakeholders, in particular, political leaders, to call for calm and we encourage security agencies to investigate thoroughly and bring perpetrators to justice.
“We are also concerned by evident vote-buying and credible reports of ballot box snatching in both Bayelsa and Kogi.
“We commend the commitment and resilience of voters in both states who came out to exercise their democratic rights. We express our sympathy for those affected by the violence, including ordinary voters; INEC officials; members of the NYSC; civil society; and the media. All should be able to carry out their fundamental role in the democratic process free from intimidation and harassment.”
The Diplomatic Watch deployed teams from Austria, the European Union Delegation, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States to monitor the November 16 elections in both state on.
