The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has revealed that both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) engaged in massive vote-buying during the Edo State governorship election.
In its preliminary report on the election, CDD said its observers reported widespread vote-buying by agents of the two major parties, saying the political parties paid about N5000 to N10000 in exchange for votes.
Chairman, CDD’s Election Analysis Centre (EAC), Professor Adele Jinadu, Chair, CDD-EAC revealed the development on Saturday evening at a preliminary briefing of journalists in Abuja on the conduct of the governorship election.
He said the CDD-EAC deployed 70 trained and accredited observers, including countering disinformation monitors, who are collecting data on key aspects of the day’s voting and other key election processes.
Noting the extensive incidents of electoral offences carried out during the polln, the organisation said this might affect the overall integrity of the electoral process.
CDD said: “In Edo Central, incidents of vote buying were observed in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Ward 10, Polling Unit 014, Esan Central, Ward 5, Unit 4 at Eguare Primary School, and Esan North East, Ward 5, Uromi, involving both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“It was observed the APC and PDP offered between 5000 to ₦10,000 in exchange for votes. The same was observed in Esan West LGA, Ward 6 Central Primary School Iruekpen Ekpoma, PU: 004. Observers reported that this practice contributed to an increase in voter turnout as news of the financial incentives spread among the electorate. Ward 5, Polling unit 4- Awo primary school, account numbers of voters were collated after voting for a particular party.
“In Edo South, incidents of vote buying were also reported at Oredo Local Government Area, Ward 12, Ibiwe/Iwegie/Ugbague at Ibiwe I, Oba Market, where PDP and Labour Party (LP) officials were particularly identified as having tried to induce voters. Of note was the attempt by some agents to engage with voters who spoke in Hausa in an attempt to engage the Hausa community in the area.
It however said some suspected vote-buyers were apprehended in the Egor Local Government Area of the state, adding that fficials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) subsequently removed the three individuals—two males and one female—from the scene.
The organisation also noted that in 42 per cent of the locations where it deployed, INEC officials did not arrive on time, stressing that another major concern was possible overcrowding of polling units, with 65 per cent of our observers noting that the polling units they observed had between 501 – 1000 registered voters.
On election logistics, CDD expressed concern that in spite of a long existing agreement between INEC and the transport unions, there were reports of hitches, such as a driver in Ovia South-West Local Government area, who refused to move materials because he had not been paid.
“Such incidents raise concerns about transport arrangements between INEC and the transport unions. Perhaps as a result, 76 per cent of our observers noted that elections had not started as at 8:30am, with some even recording commencement times after 10am. We note that this might affect the enthusiasm of voters.
“Our observers noted that the morning rains initially disrupted the election, especially in Oredo Local Government Area. Voters were particularly affected because of the decision of the Nigeria Police that umbrellas would not be allowed at polling units for fear that they could be used as “weapons” in any violence. CDD-EAC notes that before the election several weather forecasts pointed to the likelihood of showers.
“In future, INEC should take such forecasts seriously and make adequate arrangements at polling stations for shelter for its officials and voters. We think that the location of polling units in proper shelters is now overdue.”