The Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa (CDD-West Africa) has released its preliminary report on the conduct of the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election. The organization deployed 104 trained and accredited observers across the 18 local government areas to monitor the election process.
Key Observations:
- Prompt Arrival of Electoral Officials: 99% of observers reported that INEC officials arrived at polling units before 8:30 am.
- Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS): Malfunctioning BVAS machines caused delays in some polling units, but most issues were resolved within 30 minutes.
- Vote Buying: Widespread instances of vote buying were reported, with parties allegedly offering between ₦3,000 to ₦10,000 per voter.
- Voter Suppression: Incidents of voter suppression were observed, including intimidation and disruption of voting processes.
- Disinformation: The CDD Countering Disinformation War Room reported 13 false or misleading claims during the campaign period and Election Day.
CDD Recommendations:
In a statement co-signed by Garuba Dauda, the Director of CDD West Africa and Prof. Victor Adetula, Lead, CDD-EAC Observation Mission Ondo 2024, the organization urges stakeholders to adhere to the rule of law and due process during the election, collation, and declaration of results. CDD-West Africa commends voters for the peaceful conduct of the election so far.
Challenges Ahead:
With 52% of observers reporting instances of people not allowed to vote due to accreditation issues, and low voter turnout, concerns remain about the election’s credibility. The CDD-EAC will continue to monitor the election process and provide updates on its findings.
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