Yiaga Africa deploys election study mission for South Africa polls

Yiaga Africa, a civil society organisation, says it has deployed a high-level election study mission to South Africa for the national and provincial polls.

The election is scheduled for May 29, 2024.

In a statement on Monday, Samson Itodo, executive director of Yiaga Africa, said this followed accreditation by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).

Itodo said the mission is part of the Yiaga Africa Transforming Electoral Governance in Africa (TEGA) initiative.

He said TEGA aims to enhance electoral governance through evidence-based learning, documentation, and advocacy.

Itodo added that through TEGA, Yiaga Africa conducts election study missions, policy roundtables, and participatory action research on elections and electoral reforms, to strengthen democratic societies and institutions, and counter “democratic backsliding in Africa”.

The executive director said the mission is partnering with the Center for Human Rights, University of Pretoria.

“This includes election results management, electoral technology, and the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to safeguard election and information integrity,” Itodo said.

“Additionally, the mission will study the legal and administrative mechanisms protecting citizens’ right to vote, such as special voting, out-of-country voting, and prisoners’ voting.

“It will also assess the impact of issue-based politics on political competition as the country commemorates 30 years of democracy.”

Itodo added that the mission comprises seasoned election experts from electoral commissions on the continent, national parliaments, civil society, media, and international organisations.

Some members of the mission are Davidetta Browne Lansanah, chairperson, National Electoral Commission (NEC) Liberia; Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, chairman, Nigerian senate committee on INEC and electoral matters, national assembly; Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, deputy chairman, Nigerian senate committee on INEC and electoral matters, national assembly; Prince Adebayo Balogun, chairman, Nigerian house of representatives committee on electoral matters, national assembly.

Others were listed as “Hon. Yakubu Adamu Danmaliki, Deputy Chairman, Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, National Assembly; Sarah Mostafa-Kamel, Program Manager, The Symposium on Strength and Solidarity, Kenya; Dr. Matthew Ayibakuro Noah, Governance Advisor, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office Nigeria and Sambo Sumner Shagari, Director of News and Politics Editor at Arise News Television”.

“Others are Chinwe Dominica Kayla Megwa, Broadcaster, producer and anchor, Channels Television; Ozugbakun Ayodele, Bureau Chief, TVC in Abuja and Northern Operations; Samson Itodo, Executive Director, Yiaga Africa; Cynthia Mbamalu, Director of Programs, Yiaga Africa and Olusegun Ogundare ,Head, Operations and Research, Africa Division, Yiaga Africa,” the statement added.