Ahead of the November 16th governorship election in ondo state, Yiaga Africa, which focuses on election monitoring towards ensuring free, fair and credible election in Nigeria, on Tuesday disclosed that it will open a Data Centre for the off-circle election.
The Programme Manager, Yiaga Africa, Paul James stated this at a workshop organized by the group for media practitioners and civil society organizations ahead of the election.
Yiaga also disclosed that it’s deploying 324 observers to selected polling units across the 18 local government areas of the state.
According to Paul James, the 324 observers would send reports from their individual polling units which the Data Centre would be working on.
In her address, Dr.(Mrs.) Asmau Sani Meikudi, a Board member of Yiaga Africa, stated that the group carries out Process and Results Verification for Transparency(PRVT) to deter, detect and expose fraud. She added that through the activities of the group, it provides information on election process to increase the confidence of the citizenry in the election among others
She said: “Yiaga Africa is a civil society organisation that works to promote human rights, democratic governance and civic participation.
“As part of the socialization of the Process & Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology, Yiaga Africa is organizing the roundtable to provide participants with an overview of the PRVT methodology and deepen the understanding of the PRVT methodology as a tool for promoting electoral integrity.
“Yiaga considers the CSOs and Media as strategic partners and had organised similar roundtables for experience sharing during the 2020 elections.
“Yiaga has already engaged critical stakeholders for the smooth conduct of the Ondo 2024 Gubernatorial elections. We were with the REC, Ondo State, The CP Ondo State, the State Commander NCDC, IPAC; today we are engaging with CSOs, the media and later in the day with NOA and NURTW. Our objective is to ensure a free, fair, credible, inclusive and acceptable Ondo gubernatorial elections come November 16th 2024.”
