The Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms says the just-concluded 2019 general elections were free and fair.
It said if the elections were manipulated, President Muhammadu Buhari would not have lost at the polling units located inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Executive Director and Chairman of Transition Committee of CODER, Dr Wunmi Bewaji, stated this at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday.
He said, “The 2019 elections may not have been 100% free and fair, but we can score it 80% based on the results and expectations which were dashed as INEC allowed the votes to count.
“In all countries of the world, including the United States and others, elections are never 100% right, but are adjudged free and fair based on the general outcome and calculations.
“In states where it was believed that the elections would be marred by violence or rigging, elections were concluded and no major violence recorded.”
Decrying the high level of voter apathy during the elections, Bewaji said records showed that 18 per cent turnout was recorded in Lagos, while it was 56% in Jigawa.
“CODER notes a very high level of voter apathy throughout the country. The data is alarming. Millions of Permanent Voter Cards remain uncollected till date. Data suggests acute apathy especially in urban centres, particularly amongst the elites.
“To safeguard our democracy, there is the instant need to explore voters pre-registration with the introduction of a Voters Participation Certificate with attendant benefits and consequences,” Bewaji added.
