Observer Groups Decry High Level Of Voter Inducement, Compromise Of Voting Cubicles

 

Ismaeel Uthman

TWO non-governmental organisations who observed the Saturday’s governorship election in the State of Osun have jointly decried what they called, ‘high level of voter inducement and compromise,’ of the voting cubicles during the election period.  

A notable election observer, Yiaga Africa, said the election was marred with malpractices among which were high level of inducement and compromise of the voters’ cubicles.

The Board Chairman of Yiaga Africa, Dr. Hussaini Abdu, stated this while addressing newsmen in Osogbo.

This is just as Mr. Ene Obi, the Convener of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, said voter inducement tainted the credibility of the election. 

YIAGA Africa recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should uphold the secrecy of ballots in future elections in the country.

Giving the appraisal, the group added that the electoral umpire should also audit the newly created Polling Units and ensure even distribution of Polling Units.

The group said: “While observing acts of vote buying in Akinlalu and Iree towns, YIAGA Africa disclosed that information from its observers in the field revealed that voter intimidation by All Progressives Congress (APC) thugs was carried out in Iragbiji.”

It also stated that in Ogbaagba town, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs threatened to disrupt the electoral process.

Referring to the service of security agencies during Saturday’s voting, the group recommended that security personnel conduct themselves with civility.

YIAGA also suggested that appropriate sanctions should be imposed for electoral act violation. 

Commenting on the election, Ene Obi, the Convener of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, said: “The BVAS were deployed according to the number of registered voters. In polling units with over 1,000 voters, INEC kept to its promise to deploy two BVAS machines. The machines functioned credibly well. 

“There were issues with the fingerprint verifications, however the facial capture worked very well recording approximately one minute for accreditation and voting in Osogbo and in outside areas, it took longer. 

“Yiaga Africa received and verified the following critical incident reports: 

Voter Inducement/Bribery: Yiaga Africa received reports of acts of vote buying perpetrated by agents of the APC and PDP in some polling units. 

“For instance, PU 009, Akinlalu Commercial Grammar School, Ward 01 in Ife North. The party agents strategically positioned themselves by the voting cubicle to see how voters marked their ballots.

“In PU 003 Opp. Olomu Mosque in Osogbo, PDP party agents were seen handing out between N2000 and N5000 to induce voters. Also, in Disu Polling Unit 003, ward 7 in Orolu LGA, APC agents were seen distributing N4000 to voters who voted for the party while PDP party agents were seen distributing N2000 to induce voters.

“There was open negotiation of buying and selling of votes well-coordinated by the polling agents in many of the polling units. There were no complaints from any of them against each other. Codes and coupons were used to extract commitments from voters as opposed to the blatant money exchanging hands observed in the Ekiti State Governorship election.”

The groups however commended the people of the State of Osun for coming out early to cast their votes especially the elderly who waited in queues patiently.

“INEC’s deployment of materials and personnel should also be commended. Vote trading was recorded in most of the areas observed particularly outside Osogbo. As voting continues, we call on all stakeholders to maintain the peaceful atmosphere recorded so far.”