The Transition Monitoring Group has called on election stakeholders to work together to put an end to recurring violence during elections in Nigeria.
The position of the TMG was contained in a statement issued by its chairperson, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, and North West Zonal Coordinator, Dr Mustapha Muhammed, on the supplementary governorship elections held on Saturday in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto states.
TMG reiterated the need for a comprehensive audit of the 2019 general elections in order to determine what went wrong and those responsible.
The organisation condemned vote-buying and violence saying “law enforcement agents, particularly the police, were reported to have fled scenes of disruptions, leaving voters and other citizens helpless and vulnerable.”
The statement read, “We strongly condemn the violence that trailed the supplementary elections of March 23, while commending Nigerians who took part in the elections for their steadfastness despite intimidation, attacks and harassments by political thugs.
“In conclusion, we reiterate our earlier demand for a complete audit of the 2019 general elections in order to determine what went wrong, where, how and by who.
“TMG deployed observers for the 2019 general elections including the supplementary elections. Reports from our field observers include molestation of voters in Kano States particularly at Gama Ward, in Nasarawa Local Government, which was taken over by thugs who disrupted voting activities.”