CHRAJ s interim report on the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections
Fellow Countrymen, International and Domestic Observers, as you are all aware, our country held its Eighth Presidential and Parliamentary Elections since returning to Constitutional rule in 1992 on Monday, 7th December 2020.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice deployed 279 observers on December 7, 2020, made up of 41 Roaming and 238 Non-Roaming Observers.
Roaming Observers had oversight of a number of identified hotspots. Non-Roaming Observers, on the other hand, were stationed at Polling Centres where they observed proceedings at those Polling Centres from the commencement of polls to the counting of votes at those Centres.
CHRAJ describes December 7 polls as free, fair It said the infractions on citizens’ right to vote, especially vulnerable persons, were minimal. Mr Joseph A. Whittal, the Commissioner, said this on Thursday as part of the International Human Rights Day celebration, marked annually. This was from a report conducted by CHRAJ at places described as election hotspots. “The main objective for undertaking the exercise is to enhance inclusiveness in the promotion and protection of citizens’ right to vote with particular focus on groups or persons in vulnerable situations,” he said. The CHRAJ Boss said almost all the polling centres observed by the Commission provided special assistance to the elderly, pregnant, persons carrying babies and Persons with Disability to vote without having to wait in queues.