The Centre for Democratic
Development (CDD) says financial inducement of voters was rampant in Saturday’s
election in Kogi state.
In a preliminary report released
by its election analysis centre, CDD said vote buying was recorded in different
parts of the state despite the enlistment of anti-graft agencies by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The organisation said in some
polling units, voters were offered as little as N500 to influence them.
“In our report yesterday, we
noted the extensive use of financial inducements to affect the outcome of the
elections as election officials were offered $1,000 each to buy their
conscience. Today, we noted direct financial incentives to voters who were offered
money before and after voting,” CDD said.
“Notwithstanding that INEC
enlisted the EFCC and the ICPC to assist in curtailing vote-buying, vote-buying
was very rampant across the state.
“CDD observers reported that
party agents in several polling units engaged in the financial inducement of
voters to influence them to vote for the parties.The cost of a vote ranges
between N500 and N3,000.
“Voters were also intimidated,
followed into the voting cubicles and forcefully coerced, to vote for
candidates against their wishes. The coordinated disruption of the electoral
process by hoodlums mobilised by the political parties undermines the integrity
of the electoral process.”
The centre also condemned the
widespread violence in the state, citing instances, where journalists and
election observers were harassed.
“In the final build-up to the
election, CDD had drawn the attention of stakeholders to the very volatile
environment and the mostly lawless tactics employed by the partisan actors to
win political advantage at all costs. CDD EAC observers reported coordinated
disruption of voting across many polling units with hired thugs invading
Polling Units, shooting sporadically to scare away voters, and in several cases
carting away voting materials.
In Polling Unit 001 in Ward 4,
Dekina LGA, CDD observers reported the sporadic gunfire,” the report read.
“Violent disturbances caused by
rival party thugs who battled each other over control of the polling
environment was reported in Felele and Ganaja areas ofLokoja LGA, especially in
Registration Area 08, Oworo, Felele Area, PU 004. In Ankpa 1 Polling Unit (PU)
with number 2203-04-0 in Ankpa Local Government.
“CDD observers reported an
incident wherein operatives of Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS)
stormed the location of the polling unit and arrested the PDP party agent. This
move disrupted voting, as thugs responded by throwing stones in a bid to
release the PDP party agent.
“There were also several reports
of ballot box snatching; an example is PU 004 Ayingba (PMML Primary School,
GRA) where the polling unit was attacked by thugs alleged to be ruling party
supporters.
“The heavy presence of security
was not enough has a countermeasure to deter trouble makers bent on using
violence to subvert the process. Observers and Journalists were all similarly
harassed and attacked in several instances. A CDD observer was injured in
Ayingba Ward 004 while our partner TheCable journalist was harassed and his
phone seized for trying to take a picture off the APC senatorial candidate
giving money to two older women who stood by his convoy.
“We indicate below systematic and
coordinated violent attacks numerous at polling units and the carting away of
voting materials; In many polling units, observers and journalists are being
blocked from access and taking photographs in what appears to be an attempt to
prevent the gathering of evidence of electoral malpractices.”
It, however, added that INEC
officials arrived before 8am in 55.2 percent of the polling units in Kogi.
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