YIAGA Africa, a civil society organisation, has raised the alarm over the purchase of voter cards ahead of the governorship election in Edo state.
The governorship election is scheduled for September 19.
In its first pre-election observation report published on
Monday, YIAGA Africa said there might be violence during the polls.
It identified 13 out of the 18 local government areas in the
state as hotspots where disruption of voting exercise might occur.
In the report signed by Moshood Isah, its communication
officer, YIAGA said the pre-election violence may discourage voters from
exercising their franchise.
“Reports from our LTOs (Long Term Observers) suggest that
the spate of violence and insecurity in the pre-election period may discourage
voters from turning up to vote on election day,” the report read.
“WTV (Watching the Vote) LTOs reported the distribution of
money or gift items by politicians and their supporters in all the LGAs except
Uhunmwode, Akoko Edo, Etsako West, and Etsako East LGAs, while buying PVCs was
recorded in Esan Central, Oredo, Orhionmwon, Ikpoba/Okha, and Igueben LGAs.”
YIAGA Africa said campaigns have shifted from issues to
personalities, characterised by verbal and physical attacks, identity-based
violence, and hate-speech rhetoric.
It said the two dominant parties — Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) — in the governorship race are guilty
of violent rhetoric, hate speech, vandalism, and violence, adding that cult
groups have also repositioned themselves as tools to be deployed in causing
chaos during the polls.
“The competition has been reduced to a contest between
personalities as opposed to issue-based campaigns. The WTV long term observers
reported incidences of violent verbal and physical attacks, identity-based
violence, and hate-speech rhetoric as campaign strategies employed by both
parties for campaigns,” it read.
“The observers also reported the repositioning of cult
groups as political merchandise for the election in some LGAs. While INEC
activities for the election have commenced in earnest in some LGAs, observers
reported that INEC is conducting very little voter education, especially on the
new Voter’s Code of Conduct for Elections during COVID-19. In addition,
observers reported sexual and gender-based violence in some of the LGAs in the
state.
“The state is also witnessing a surge in cult groups’
activities, especially in Ikpoba/Okha, Oredo, Orhionmwon, and Owan West LGAs.
This is mainly attributable to an entrenched subculture of violence built
around well-known strongmen, thugs, touts, gangsters, and cultists on the one
hand, and the widespread belief that elections cannot be won – or smooth
governance guaranteed – without strong-arm tactics and the support of powerful
thugs.
“The situation is direr because of the proliferation of
small arms and other weapons, which is evident in the free use of firearms at
campaign venues.”
The organisation called on security agencies to put adequate
measures in place towards achieving a peaceful election in Edo.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com