Yiaga Africa: Observers, INEC officials were teargassed in some Edo LGAs

Yiaga Africa, a civil society organisation (CSO), says there were disruptions in the collation of results of the Edo governorship election in some LGAs of the state.

In a post on its official X page on Sunday, the organisation said there was interference and intimidation in Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha LGAs.

Yiaga said observers and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were teargassed in certain polling units.

The CSO added that collating LGA results at the state capital violates established procedures.

“Reports from our LGA collation center observers indicate disruptions in the collation process for Oredo and Ikpoba/Okha,” the post reads.

“Observers and INEC officials are being teargassed in Ikpoba/Okha.

“We want to emphasize that collating LGA results at the state headquarters violates the established procedure for results collation.

“Electoral law permits accredited observers, media, and party agents to monitor results collation at all levels.

“Failure to address these issues risks undermining the legitimacy of what has been a peaceful process since its commencement.”

The CSO asked INEC to resist intimidation and interference.

VOTE BUYING

On Saturday, Yiaga Africa reported incidents of vote buying and polling unit disruption during the election.

The CSO said vote buying was observed in several LGAs including Ikpoba-Okha, Igueben, Esan West, Akoko Edo, Owan West, and Uhunmode.

It added that votes were sold for a paltry N10,000 in the six LGAs.

Ahead of the Edo election, Yiaga Africa had alerted that politicians may resort to violence and vote buying during the poll.

Yiaga harped on the need to address vote buying through decisive actions, including the arrest and prosecution of alleged buyers and sellers.

The CSO said it observed a “volatile political climate” for the election, adding that strong-arm tactics and violence marred the campaigns.

Seventeen candidates are battling for over 2.2 million votes across the 18 LGAs of Edo.

On Saturday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested some suspects for alleged vote buying.