An NGO, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement says it will deploy sophisticated Information Technologies (IT) to monitor November governorship election in Anambra.
Mr Paul James, the Manager, Training of the NGO, made this known during a one-day workshop for journalists on Wednesday in Awka. James said that the deployment of the sophisticated IT equipment in monitoring the election was to establish statistical principles to give unbiased and verifiable reports. “We will use the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology, the best standard for citizen observation that is timely and gives accurate information on the conduct of voting , counting of votes and declarations,’’ he said.
According to him, PVT is the only observation methodology that can independently verify the official results as announced by the electoral body of any country that applies its methodology. James, who also called for partnership with media, added that without the cooperation from the media, elections usually ended in controversy. He said that as a civil society organisation, the body was committed to promoting democratic governance, human rights and participation of youths in politics. James said that the body was focused on in-depth research, capacity development and public policy advocacy. He said that since inception, the group had carved a niche for itself as one of Nigeria’s frontline youth civil society organsations promoting participatory democracy, human right and active civic participation.
Miss Safiya Bichi, another official of the NGO said that the body had deployed 27 supervisors who would cover pre- election activities in the 21 local government areas of the state. She said that the information collated would enable the body make a decision on the number of stakeholders to engage in the town hall meetings. “The reports we get will give us direction on whether to call for town hall meeting with electoral body, security agencies, traditional rulers and National Orientation Agency before the exercise,’’ she said. Bichi said that political parties and electoral body activities were being monitored to see how prepared they are to conduct peaceful election come Nov. 18. She said that the body divided the state into two – North and South, adding that 500 personnel would be deployed to monitors activities in 4,608 polling units in the state.
Miss Cynthia Mbamalu, the Project Director of the group said that PVT had been conducted in Ghana 2008 and 2012, Kenya 2010 and 2013, Malawi 2009 and 2013, Nigeria 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 , Uganda 2011, Zambia 2008, 2011 and 2015 She said that the process would be used in Nov.18 governorship election in and Anambra and 2019 general election. She prayed the media to partner with the body for the overall good of the nation and upholding of democratic process.
Source: Vanguard
