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By Paul Williams
In spite an increasing rise in voter apathy and worry over future elections in Nigeria, leading election monitoring group, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), says it is committed to promoting a culture of free, fair and credible polls in the country.
This, according to TMG’s South South zonal coordinator, Amb. Sylvester Okoduwa, will translate to the organization boosting its participation in the coming off-cycle elections in Edo State and others, and ensuring more observers are put in the field to monitor and report on the conduct of the polls.
Okoduwa’s comments came against the backdrop of elections into the state offices of the TMG in Rivers State.
In keenly contested elections, conducted by the zonal coordinator, Amb. Okoduwa, and zonal treasurer, Amb. Christie Iwezor, at the offices of the Everest Nwankwo Esq-led Anpez Center for Environment and Development in Port Harcourt on Monday, Nathaniel Akporuvweku Esq was re-elected to a second term as Rivers State coordinator, while Pst Philip Kalio emerged as the deputy coordinator for Rivers South East; Evang (Mrs) Joy Ifeoma Anozie (deputy coordinator, Rivers West) and Glory Okolo (Rivers East).
Amb. Okoduwa noted that 13 member-organisations are registered under the Rivers State chapter, bringing the total in the South South region to 39 member-organisations.
He said the passion for transparency and good governance is the key to their commitment as TMG members, adding that TMG now has a board of trustees with each geo-political zone in the country represented on the board.
“We have decided that TMG should not be a seasonal organization, only coming to life during elections. We want to consolidate on existing structures and play more effective role in the society. For the coming elections in Edo and others, TMG is participating in the elections and we are going to sponsor observers for the elections,” he said.
Re-elected Rivers State coordinator, Nathaniel Akporuvweku Esq, in his acceptance speech, noted that Nigerians, “mostly those resident in Rivers State are increasingly losing confidence in our electoral system as witnessed and observed during the 2023 general elections in Rivers State, which was full of all forms of electoral malpractice, manipulation, violence, commercialization and privatization of political parties, which the innovation of the Electoral Act 2022 was intended to cure.
“But for the recent decision of the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on the 6h of September 2023, these innovations have somehow been jettisoned for the clear letters of the law. As a frontline observation organization in Nigeria, I dare say we are worried about this outcome of the judgement which will take us back to the dark days of electoral violence and malpractices if care is not taken,” he said.
Akporuvweku commended the board of the Transition Monitoring Group, led by Auwal Musa Rasfanjani as chairman, while promising that the new “State Coordinating Committee (SCC) will run an all-inclusive organization, rebuilding partnerships with citizens, and civil society organizations, re-establishing the chapter in its core areas of work- election observation, civic education and promotion of democracy.”
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), he said, is the foremost independent civil society election observation organization in Nigeria. “Established in 1998 as a non-profit organization, TMG seeks to secure the highest standards in the administration of elections in Nigeria by ensuring that the election management body and the electorate carry out their responsibilities during elections under the Law and internationally recognized standards for free and fair elections. It also seeks to ensure that good governance is entrenched in Nigeria through responsible leadership.
“In conclusion, I urge you all, particularly the media to take a deep study of the political environment in Rivers State and suggest areas you feel are in need of further engagements by the state chapter of TMG so that we can all move into the field to succeed,” he said.
