‘Early start, voter inducement’ — YIAGA releases preliminary report on Ekiti guber poll

YIAGA Africa, a civil society organisation (CSO), has released a preliminary report on the Ekiti governorship election.

The report was signed by Samson Itodo and Ezenwa Nwagwu, executive director and board member of the CSO, respectively.

YIAGA Africa commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the conduct of the exercise, especially on early commencement of the election in most of the 246 polling units its observers monitored.

“Early Opening of Polls: Yiaga Africa WTV observed early arrival of polling officials and materials at polling units across the State. As of 7:30 am, Yiaga Africa WTV observers reported that INEC officials had arrived at 75% of polling units,” the report reads.

“Early Start of Polls: By 8:30 am, 24% of polling units had commenced accreditation and voting. This, however, increased to 99% by 9:30 am.

“This is consistent with Yiaga Africa’s observation findings in the 2018 elections, where officials had arrived at 78% of polling units by 7:30 am and 91% of polling units opened by 9:00 am.

“Furthermore, the early commencement is an improvement when compared to the Anambra 2021 gubernatorial election where INEC officials were observed in only 17% of polling units by 7:30 am and accreditation and voting had begun by 9:30 am in 28% of polling units.

“Functionality of the BVAS: Yiaga Africa observed the deployment of the BVAS to all polling units.

“Deployment of polling officials: In those polling units where INEC officials and materials arrived, 96% of polling units had more than three polling officials present, and 55% of polling units had at least two female polling officials present.

“Deployment of Party Agents: All Progressives Congress (APC) polling or party agents were seen at 100% of polling units, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at 98% of polling units and Social Democratic Party (SDP) polling agents were seen at 98% of polling units.

“Deployment of Assistive Materials and Set up of Polling Unit: The Braille ballot guides were observed in 61% of polling units, the PWD poster was seen in 66% of polling units and form 40H (PWD voter information and statistics) was seen in 76% of polling units.

“The polling unit was not set up in a location that allows voters to mark their ballots in secret in 8% of polling units.

“Yiaga Africa commends the EFCC for the arrests made of people buying votes. We call on the officials of EFCC deployed to ensure full prosecution of individuals caught in the act of vote buying/voter inducement.”

The CSO, however, raised concerns on voter inducement and lack of secrecy during voting.

“Voter Inducement/Bribery: Vote buying was reported by WTV observers in
Alowodolu/Ojo – The Apostolic P.S Compound with PU code 13/09/04/00 in Ijero Ward D of Ijero LGA. Party agents from APC were reportedly sharing N7,000 to voters who showed how their ballot paper was marked. A similar report on vote buying by APC was received from Open Space At Bamitale Along St. Mary’s Road in Ikere,” the CSO said.

“Also, in Ogidi – in Ipoti Ward A, party agents from PDP and SDP were seen bribing voters. At C. A. C. Gramm. Sch./Ola Oluwa II with PU code 014 in Ado-Ekiti, APC party agent was also reportedly giving N5000 to voters who confirmed they had voted for the party.

“Polling Unit Not Opened: WTV Observers in Premises of Staff Nur & Pri. School. Balemo, Oke Ila with PU Code 13/01/07/006 in Ado Ekiti reported that as of 12:00 noon neither INEC officials nor materials had arrived at the polling unit.

“Secrecy of the Ballots compromised: Secrecy of the ballot was compromised as people could see how voters marked the ballots in Igede Ward II 13-13-06-014 in Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA. Party agents for the APC, PDP and SDP clustered around the voting cubicle and saw how voters marked their ballot papers.”