Yiaga: We observed widespread vote buying in Ondo election

Yiaga Africa, a civil society organisation (CSO), says its agents observed widespread incidences of vote buying and polling unit disruption at the ongoing Ondo governorship election.

Residents of Ondo went to the poll on Saturday to elect a new governor.

There are 17 candidates in the governorship race with Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, and Sola Ebiseni, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), as major contenders in the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said there were 2.053 million registered votes in the state.

In a statement on Saturday, Yiaga Africa said it deployed 300 stationary observers and 24 roving observers to representatives sample of polling units across 18 LGAs.

The organisation said election began peacefully as voters and INEC officials arrived at their polling units on time.

The CSO said some of its agents were denied access to observe the election, noting that adequate provisions were not made for persons with disabilities (PWDs) to cast their votes.

The organisation added that it received report of widespread vote buying “which was not hindered by security operatives present”.

The organisation said some persons also disrupted voting at the Leo Hospital polling unit in the Owode/Imuagun ward of Akure South LGA due to the malfunctioning of the BVAS.

“The presiding officer and security personnel were denied access to a Yiaga Africa observer deployed at Igbelowowa Methodist Primary School polling unit in Idanre LGA. They claimed they had not been informed that observers should be allowed to observe the process,” the statement reads.

“The APC party agent stationed at the Odulufe, Omoke, Odosika, Ogubgobe polling units in the Ileooluji II ward of Ileoluji LGA was observed offering cash inducements of N20,000 to voters in exchange for their vote for the party. Unfortunately, security agents did not intervene to stop this action.

“Voters at the Ogun/Saruku Area polling unit in Ilara II ward, Ifedore LGA, revealed how they marked their ballot papers to agents of the APC party in exchange for cash gifts.

“The security personnel present did not respond to this situation. APC and PDP agents were observed bribing voters with cash incentives ranging from N5000 to N10,000 at the Elegiri/Ediro Compound polling unit in Ilara I ward, Ifedore LGA.”