Voters in Edo state cast their ballots in the state’s highly contested governorship election on Saturday, amid reports of logistical challenges and electoral malpractices.
At a press conference in Abuja, fact-checking journalist Seyi Awojulugbe presented the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) preliminary statement, highlighting concerns over the election’s conduct.
The organization’s Election Analysis Centre (EAC) deployed 70 trained observers across the state’s 18 local government areas, reporting widespread vote buying, late arrival of INEC officials, overcrowding, and disinformation.
Key findings include:
- Widespread vote buying, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) offering between ₦5,000 to ₦10,000 per vote
- Late arrival of INEC officials in 42% of observed polling units, disrupting voting
- Overcrowding and poor signage at polling units, causing confusion among voters
- Disinformation and information manipulation targeting major candidates, including false claims about Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata
“CDD-West Africa commends the people of Edo State for their peaceful conduct during the election,” said Professor Adele Jinadu, Chair of the CDD-EAC. “However, we urge INEC to address the logistical challenges and electoral offences reported.”
The election has been keenly contested, with the PDP, APC, and Labour Party (LP) vying for control of the state.
Key Concerns:
- INEC’s preparedness and deployment
- Electoral offences, including vote trading
- Disinformation and information manipulation
Recommendations:
- Strengthened fact-checking initiatives to counter disinformation
- Robust voter education and media literacy campaigns
- Improved logistics and polling unit management
The CDD-EAC says it will continue monitoring the election process until the conclusion of voting, counting, and collation of results.
Add Comment