The CLEEN foundation has commended the performance of security agents deployed for Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.
The foundation’s Executive Director, Gad Peter, said this on Saturday in its preliminary media statement on the 2023 presidential elections by the CLEEN foundation election security support centre (ESSC).
The Chairman, Board of Directors of the foundation, Dr. Etannibi Alemika, and other officials of the foundation were at the briefing.
According to him, preliminary reports from the Senatorial Districts indicate that, despite some reported delays, the elections was going on according to the standards for democratic elections to which Nigeria has committed itself.
He said that the CLEEN Foundation ESSC deployed 109 trained INEC-accredited observers and is also liaising with a sizable number of citizen observers across the country covering the 109 senatorial zones in Nigeria.
“In the following states Delta, Ebonyi, Imo, Ondo, and some part of Lagos late arrival of security personnel were reported in some polling units. CLEEN observers reported that 47.1% of the security personnel in the polling units visited were on duty between 7:00am and 8:30am,” Peter said.
He also said that there was adequacy of security personnel, as data gathered from the CLEEN ESSC show that over 80% of the polling units (PUs) have at least two or more security agents.
“However, in 19% of the PUs observed, only one security personnel were present. On identification of security personnel, CLEEN Foundation ESSC observed that in almost all the polling units observed security agents were wearing easily visible and identifiable name tags in compliance with the Electoral Act.
“The information from CLEEN observers indicates that most of the security personnel on election duty were civil and approachable. CLEEN Foundation observers across the states reported that they felt safe and secure at the polling units,” he added.
He also said that the majority of CLEEN’s observers reported that security personnel in the PUs visited acted professionally and impartially towards the voters.
The CLEEN Foundation boss said it received the report of the alleged killing of a box snatcher at Ate-iji PU in Anyigba, Dekina LGA of Kogi State.
He said, “On Overall conduct of security personnel, CLEEN Foundation Election Security Support Centre observed that most security personnel were of good conduct at the various PUs.”
