Situational Statement on the 2021 Anambra Gubernatorial Election November 6, 2021 Delivered at Vertex Hotel, Awka

Introduction

On Saturday 6, November 2021, Yiaga Africa Watching the Vote (WTV) deployed 500 carefully
trained stationary observers and 27 mobile observers to polling units across the 21 Local
Government Areas of Anambra state. The observers were deployed to observe the election day process from the set-up of polling units to the counting and posting of results at the polling units.

The WTV election day situational report provides information and data on the commencement of
polls, availability of election materials and critical incidents that may impact the quality of the
election.

This report is based on verified reports received from 229 of 248 sampled polling units
as at 4pm on election day. In addition, sixty-six critical incident reports were received and
processed as at 4:00pm.

These incidents could potentially undermine the integrity of the election
if unaddressed.
Preliminary Findings

1. Delayed opening of polling units: Yiaga Africa WTV observed the late arrival of polling
   officials and materials at polling units across the State. By 7:30 am, polling officials were
   present in only 17% of polling units. The delays were occasioned by poor logistics
   management. Yiaga Africa anticipated these challenges based on our pre-election
   observation, hence the call in our pre-election statement urging INEC to make contingency
   plans in situations where respective transport unions /companies reneged on their
   contractual obligation to deploy.
2. Late start of Polls: As expected, the late arrival of polling officials delayed the
   commencement of accreditation and voting across several polling units. Reports from the
   WTV observes revealed that by 9:30 am only 28% of polling units commenced
   accreditation and voting. By 10:30 am, 50% of the polling units had commenced
   accreditation and voting. This, however, increased by noon as accreditation and voting
   were reported in 81% of the polling units.
   The geographical distribution indicates that 64.3% of polling units in Anambra Central
   Senatorial district commenced accreditation and voting by 10:30 am, 60.3% of polling
   units in Anambra North while in Anambra South senatorial district, only 28.9% of
   polling units commended accreditation and voting by 10:30 am.
3. Deployment of Polling Officials: Yiaga Africa WTV observed that an average of 2 polling
   officials were deployed in those polling units where INEC officials and materials arrived.
   This is lower than the required number of four polling officials per polling unit. At least
   one female polling official was present in the polling units.
4. Deployment and non-functionality of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS):
   Yiaga Africa WTV observed the deployment of the BVAS to the polling units. Howeve

Yiaga Africa received reports of the BVAS failure to authenticate voters’ fingerprints and
photos even where voter details were confirmed on the voter register.

5. Critical Incidents: Non-opening of Polling Units by 12 noon: Based on verified reports
   from Yiaga Africa observers, 19% of polling units failed to open by 12noon. In other
   words, INEC officials didn’t deploy to those polling units. These incidents are mostly
   concentrated in Anambra South Senatorial District (23.5%), Anambra Central (17%),
   and Anambra North Senatorial districts (13%). Yiaga Africa is concerned that the non￾opening of these polling stations disenfranchises registered voters in those polling units.
   Yiaga Africa commends the people of Anambra for the enthusiasm and resilience demonstrated
   with the turnout for the elections. INEC owes the people of Anambra a duty to take necessary steps
   to ensure registered voters are not disenfranchised on the basis of technological failures or logistics
   challenges. Yiaga Africa urges INEC to provide periodic updates on the status of elections in
   polling units where the BVAS consistently malfunctioned or where elections did not hold.
   Yiaga Africa lauds the professionalism exhibited by security agencies since the commencement of
   polls. Yiaga Africa reiterates its call to security agencies to respect human rights and maintain non￾partisan dispositions throughout the results collation process. Yiaga Africa further calls on the
   security agencies to investigate reports of hijack of election materials and prosecute the culprits.
   Conclusion
   Yiaga Africa commends the good people of Anambra State for their peaceful conduct during the
   voting process and plead that they remain patient and peaceful through the voting and counting
   process. Yiaga Africa will provide updates as the process comes to an end, and collation
   commences. Yiaga Africa restates her commitment to sharing accurate data and information on
   the conduct of the election and results based on its deployment of the Parallel Vote Tabulation
   methodology. If INEC’s official results fall within Yiaga Africa’s estimated rate, then the public,
   political parties and candidates should have confidence that the official results reflect the ballots
   cast at the polling units; however, if the announced results have been manipulated and do not match
   the polling units’ results, Yiaga Africa will expose it.
   “Driven by Data – For All Nigerians – Beholden to None!”
   Samson Itodo Ezenwa Nwagwu
   Executive Director Board Member
   Yiaga Africa Yiaga Africa
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