Edo Guber Poll: YIAGA Africa Frowns At Vote Buying, Thuggery

BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Yiaga Africa, says despite repeated public engagements on the need for a transparent and hitch-free election, its team members still spotted incidences of vote buying and polling unit disruption during Saturday’s governorship poll in Edo State.

In a statement released immediately after voting in the election was concluded, the Organisation described as unfortunate Nigerian politicians’ refusal to embrace global best practices, saying; “Yiaga Africa observers reported incidents of vote buying in Ikpoba/Okha, Igueben, Esan West, Akoko Edo, Owan West and Uhunmode LGAs.

“APC and PDP party agents were seen bribing voters with cash (N10,000) at the Igueben – Idumoka Pri School polling unit (12-10-03-004) Ward 1 in Igueben LGA,”

The group, which claimed to have deployed 300 stationary and 25 roving agents to observe a representative sample of polling units across all 18 LGAs in Edo, said in the statement that; “Party agents for APC and PDP were also seen handing out cash (N10,000) in Enikaro, specifically at Enikaro Primary School IX Polling Unit (12-11-07-009) in Ugbekun ward, Ikpoba/Okha LGA.”

Also drawing attention to other challenges that tainted the Saturday election, the group stated thus; “Voters halted the accreditation and voting process in the Ikpoba, Army Children XI polling unit (12-11-01-011) in Iwogban/Uteh Ward, Ikpoba/Okha LGA because INEC officials arrived without the official stamp.

“At Ebua Market Square in Uhunwode LGA, an altercation between APC and PDP supporters over alleged bribery led to the suspension of voting and the destruction of the voting cubicle. Political thugs also disrupted voting at Anyaran Araromi Primary School in Akoko Edo LGA.”

Yiaga further noted that though the election began peacefully with minimal critical incidents, logistics challenges caused delays in the commencement of accreditation and voting in several polling units.

While frowning at what it called an uneven distribution of security personnel, resulting in some densely populated polling units not being properly secured, Yiaga listed the logistics issues to include lack of vehicles to transport INEC officials or election materials, the absence of security personnel, and the rains which kept voters away from voting.

Meanwhile, the Organisation confirmed that its observers are currently monitoring the results collation process at the Local Government Areas and state levels.