•Says Persistent Vote Buying Can Mar Elections
YIAGA Africa, a civil society organization, has said its agents observed widespread vote buying in the ongoing Ondo State Governorship Election.
This was contained in a statement singed by the Chairman of the 2024 Ondo Election Mission, YIAGA Africa, Ezenwa Nwagwu.
The statement further condemned this, stating that it contributes to electoral corruption and political inequality.
“Yiaga Africa observed widespread occurrence of vote buying across several polling units, which is becoming a permanent feature of our electoral process.
According to Yiaga, the voting process commenced calm and orderly as voters arrived just in time to cast their votes.
“As Yiaga Africa reported in its pre-election statement, the lead-up to the elections was relatively peaceful. On election day, the process began calmly and orderly, demonstrating citizens’ interest in participating peacefully.
“Citizens arrived early at their assigned polling units to cast their votes in the gubernatorial elections.”
The statement also lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the successful deployment of officials, voting materials across the state.
“Additionally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the transport union groups successfully deployed election officials and materials across the state.
“By 7:30 am, election officials had arrived at 71% of the polling units. By 9:30 am, accreditation and voting were underway in 91% of the observed polling units.”
Similarly, it also commendedthe Department of State Security (DSS) for apprehending an individual allegedly involved in vote trading at the St. Stephen Polling Unit in Ward 4, Akure.
“Yiaga Africa firmly holds the political parties and candidates accountable for the negative trends observed in our elections.
“Political parties cannot distance themselves from the persistent issue of vote buying that continues to mar our electoral processes.”
The organization further listed some findings based on reports as follows;
“Our findings reveal that INEC officials arrived at 71% of the polling units by 7:30 a.m. By 9:30 am, accreditation and voting had commenced in 91% of polling units. The geographical distribution indicates that 93% of polling units in the Ondo Central Senatorial District, 95% of polling units in Ondo North, and 86% of polling units in the Ondo South Senatorial Districts commenced accreditation and voting by 9:30 a.m.
“Yiaga Africa observed and noted adequate deployment of election materials like register of voters, voting cubicle, official stamp, Ink pad, and indelible ink, in the opened polling units observed. Yiaga Africa also noted the deployment of assistive materials for persons with disability, with magnifying glasses deployed in only 28% of the polling units, PWD posters in 90% of polling units and PWD voter information and statistics (Form EC 40H) in 90% of polling units.
“Yiaga Africa observed that every polling unit observed had a BVAS deployed. Additionally, Yiaga Africa noted that 6% of the polling units had two or more BVAS devices deployed. However, in 2% of polling units, the VAS accreditation count was not shown to voters to confirm that it was set to zero before the start of accreditation and voting.
“All Progressives Congress (APC) party agents were sighted at all observed polling units, Labour Party (LP) agents were seen at 10% of polling units, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) agents were in 99% of polling units and the Social Democratic Party (SP) agents were in 6% of polling units.