Bayelsa Guber Polls: TMG launches Quick Count Election monitoring project

Ibrahim Zikirullahi

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) says it is set to deploy the Quick Count election observation methodology for the December 5, governorship poll in Bayelsa.

Unveiling the Quick Count project on Thursday in Yenagoa, Mr Ibrahim Zikirullahi, Chairman, TMG said the methodology employs statistical principles and sophisticated information technology platforms.

TMG launched the Quick Count Project in Yenagoa before representatives of INEC, Civil Society Groups, Media, TMG volunteers amongst other stakeholders.

Zikirullahi, noted that Quick Count is a parallel vote tabulation method that provides timely and accurate information on the conduct of voting and counting capable of independently verifying the accuracy of election results.

“TMG is undertaking the Quick Count for the Bayelsa Governorship poll to provide voters, candidates, political parties, security and the INEC and public with independent information about whether the official results reflect ballots cast at the polling units.

“If INEC’s official results fall within TMG’s estimated range then the public, political parties and candidates should have confidence that official results reflect ballots cast at polling units,” Zikirullahi said.

He said that TMG volunteers who would work as observers on this project are drawn from every corner of the state, TMG observers include men and women,the young, and the elderly,Christians and muslims.

Zikirullahi further explained that TMG is an independent and strictly non-=artisan organization with no affiliation to any political party or candidate. The

The TMG further urged INEC the consider extending the time for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in view of additional challenges posed by the difficult terrain of the coastal communities in Bayelsa.

It also urged INEC to intensify efforts the overcome the identified logistic lapses to ensure that no voter was disenfranchised due to challenges in the CVR process.

Also Speaking at the event, Mr Baritor Kpagih noted that election was a multi stakeholder process but regretted that INEC was blamed for lapses outside its control.

He called on the political parties, security agencies as well as electorates to collaborate with INEC to ensure that the forthcoming elections were violence free and credible.

He said that INEC officials were faced with threats to their safety in the conduct of their duties and urged all the key players to play by the rules.