Yiaga Africa, validates Anambra Gov poll results

An independent election observer, Yiaga Africa through its Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology, has validated the results of the 20 Local Governments so far released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Anambra governorship election.

In its preliminary report released on Monday in Abuja, it said for 18 political parties contesting the Anambra 2021 gubernatorial election, the INEC official result of the 20 LGAs released is consistent with its Watching The Vote (WTV) estimate.

The organisation, however noted that the release of the figures speaks only to the accuracy of the tabulation process for votes cast on Saturday, November 6 and not the overall credibility of the 2021 Anambra gubernatorial election.

Yiaga Africa spoke during a briefing jointly addressed by its Executive Director, Samson Itodo, Board Member, Ezenwa Nwagwu and Director of Programs, Cynthia Mbamalu.

“INEC has so far released results for 20 LGAs. While the election is not yet over and voting has still to take place in Ihiala LGA, Yiaga Africa’s PVT can provide independent verification if the results announced thus far reflect the ballots cast on Saturday, November 6.

“The release of these figures speaks only to the accuracy of the tabulation process for votes cast on Saturday, November 6 and not the overall credibility of the 2021 Anambra gubernatorial election. As noted, the election is not yet over.

“Yiaga Africa will continue observing the voting and counting processes as well as the results announcement for Ihiala by deploying its observers to the sampled polling units of the LGA on Tuesday.

“Of sampled polling units that opened Saturday, Yiaga Africa has received reports from 96% of from the field observers (195 of 203).

“Based those reports, Yiaga Africa’s statistical analysis shows that for the votes cast on Saturday 06 November All Progressives Congress (APC) should receive between 16.6% and 21.1% of the vote, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) should receive between 41.0% and 47.6% of the vote; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should receive between 19.2% and 24.2% of the vote; Young Progressive Party (YPP) should receive between 6.7% and 11.1% of the vote while no other political party should receive more than 2% of the vote,” the organisation said.

It noted that had the official results be changed at the ward, LGA or state collation centres, the official results would not have fallen within its WTV estimated ranges.

“Because the official results fall within the estimated ranges, governorship contestants, parties, and voters should have confidence the official results for the 20 LGAs as announced by INEC reflect the ballots cast at polling units on Saturday, November 6,” Yiaga Africa said.

The election monitoring group decried the initial logistic challenges that trailed the conduct of the polls, especially the deployment of Biomodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS).

The group, while raising other concerns, ranging from community resistance to the conduct of the elections, to late commencement of polls in several polling units, noted that the inconclusive nature of the polls cannot be totally extricated from INEC’s framework of adopting new electoral technologies without exhausting all the peculiar challenges that might arise.

It however commended INEC for replacing Smart Card Readers with the BVAS, in the conduct of the gubernatorial exercise.