A political think tank, the Centre for Democracy and Development on Saturday highlighted worries about the authenticity of the gubernatorial race, citing the suspected public sale of votes, violence and intimidation.
According to the group, while the Independent National Electoral Commission fared well in the area of logistics deployment leading to fast arrival of election officials, adding there were occasional instances of non-functionality of the Bi-modal Voters Accreditation System.
The CDD noted the problems in its preliminary statement on the gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections, released by its Executive Director, Idayat Hassan.
She claimed data from its 1,500 observers stationed around the nation revealed there were more incidences of vote-buying during the gubernatorial election compared to the presidential contest of February 25.
According to her, this reality mirrored throughout all six geopolitical zones.
Hassan stated, “In the North-West, observers in all seven states reported increasing instances of vote dealing, particularly by political party operatives. Money was utilized with other things such as food products, wrappers and ‘credit vouchers,’ and those goods would be redeemed following the results.
“Similarly in the North East, political party agents in Taraba entered the line, appeared to be voters and utilized the occasion to offer payment for votes.
“In the South-East, there were claims of APGA and LP party agents utilizing materials, phones and other souvenirs to attract voters in Anambra State.
“In the South-South, various states reported a demand for voters to produce evidence of their vote before being rewarded, with party agents collecting a list of their voters in Esan Central LGA, Edo state.
“This could be a reflection of the heightened political atmosphere surrounding gubernatorial races, the centrality of local personalities in state-level politics, and the shortages of petrol and Naira.”
Commenting on the incidences of violence, the pro-democracy group said the events underscored the heightened political context that the elections had been held.
According to Hassan, these acts of violence featured party operatives and politically supported goons.
She further remarked, “An issue that has cut across various zones is the diminished presence of security officers. Observers throughout the states in the south-south, South West and North West observed a substantially reduced security presence, particularly when compared to the presidential election.
“This has led to recurrent clashes and violence between voters, party operatives and authorities. For example, observers in Enugu observed confrontations between party spokespeople, while others in Jigawa noted similar conflicts amongst self-professed party members.”
Accordingly, the think-tank recognized voter suppression as a crucial element affecting the conduct of elections.
Additionally, the CDD alleged thuggery was employed to disrupt the process.
“There were instances in Ukanafun LGA, Akwa Ibom, where thugs stormed a polling station and frightened away voters. Voting materials were also seized at gunpoint in Emelia LGA and thugs also interrupted the process in Obio Akpor LGA, both in Rivers State”, she claimed.
Commenting on the role played by online falsehoods, CDD stressed how a flurry of voter intimidation videos was extensively circulating online as voters were headed to the polls, notably in Lagos.
Speaking also, the Head of the CDD’s Election Analytical Centre, Prof. Adele Jinadu, said the turnout of voters for the elections varied from state to state based on anecdotal information.
He indicated that in places where the incumbent was being strongly challenged by his opponent, a comparatively greater turnout of voters was experienced.
Jinadu noted that CDD observation data revealed that in the south-south, the overall feeling of discouragement throughout the area owing to the unfortunate result of the presidential election hindered turnout with voters expressing that ‘there is no point’ of going out to vote.
He also added that CDD observer data revealed that throughout the southwest zone, INEC workers came on time and swiftly began the process in over 80 per cent of observed polling stations.
“This tendency is essentially consistent throughout the six geo-political zones. In Anambra State 75 per cent of polling stations had INEC officials who came on time with voting starting on average at 8:41 am.
“There was even an allegation of INEC personnel in Benue state having stayed over in the polling unit to prevent late coming,” he added.
