The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has decried the irregularities, voter suppression and intimidation that characterised the conduct of the off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states which held over the weekend.

In a statement by Professor Adele Jinadu, Chairman of the CDD Election Analysis Centre, the views emanated from the organisation’s preliminary report on the election.

CDD further stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission failed to deploy electoral materials to some polling units across the three states, leading to delayed voting at the centres. They also noted low participation among the electorate due to electoral violence, which marred the credibility of the election.

“Our observers reported that voting in 65% of polling units observed in Bayelsa and 80% of polling units observed in Imo started late, well after the 8am commencement time. While this was different in Kogi, where this rate was 40%, there were still pockets of late polls commencing across the state. Of particular concern is the low voter turnout that we have noted in the various polling units we have observed. Observers at Comprehensive Secondary School Ward, Polling Unit 001, Orsu LGA, in Imo, reported that INEC officials were not at the PU.

“The few voters who were present confirmed that many eligible voters were scared of coming out to vote due to fear of violence. We are particularly concerned about the turnout rate and how this will affect future engagements between the citizens and elected officials.

“Several observers in Bayelsa have reported the late arrival of INEC staff and security personnel. In PU 24 WARD 4 (Yenagoa) voting started as late as 11:37am. In Oporoma, the headquarters of the Southern Ijaw LGA, INEC officials only arrived at 12:15pm, while in Ogbia LGA Ward 10 Unit 3, voting only commenced at 12:40pm. The same observation was made about Kogi, where, as at 10:54am, voting activities had yet to resume in Iluteju, Okesi, Okibo, Eni, Oshobeni and Aiyeronmi wards in Ogori-Magongo LGA”.

Vote Buying

The CSO further decried the incidents of vote buying and voters’ inducement by politicians in the states. They further buttressed that voters were paid some amount of money ranging from N5,000 to N22,000 and other materials like food and materials for consumption as an exchange for their votes.

“Observers reported incidents in PU 1, Ward 8 and PU 11, Ward 1 in Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa West. In Bayelsa Central, vote trading was reported in PU 16, Ward 6 in Yenegoa LGA, and PU 22, Ward 13 in Southern Ijaw LGA, with reports of voter inducements ranging from 5,000 – 22,000 Naira including other items such as wrappers. In PU 30 and 31, Ward 13, along with money, rice was also shared to buy votes, and we are concerned that there were allusions that it might be linked to the delayed flood and subsidy palliatives that state governments only started distributing two days ago.

“There were reports of vote buying in PUs 004, 038 and 039 in Ward A of Lokoja LGA, where party agents were allegedly sharing out money to voters upon confirmation that they voted for their party candidates. Furthermore, both APC and PDP agents were reported to have engaged in vote buying, with 2000 to 3000 naira shared, at PU3 Mbutu Ward, Aboh Mbaise LGA and PU11, Civic Centre Ward, Mbaitoli LGA. There was also another incident in Olamaboro LGA, Ward 3 and Unit 12, with reports of vote buying by APC and PDP agents,” the organisation adds.

“There were similar trends in Imo, where we observed incidents of vote buying in PU 11, Civic Centre Ward and PU 1, Umuodu Ward, both in Mbaitoli-Ezinihitte LGA. In PU 7, Central School UmuNakanu Ehime LGA, there were reports that INEC ad-hoc staff were given monetary inducement by party officials. Based on our observation, incidents of vote buying have so far been concentrated in Mbaitoli-Ezinihitte, Owerri West and Njaba LGAs. This is particularly interesting, because Mbaitoli-Ezinihitte and Owerri West LGAs have the highest number of collected PVCs amongst the LGAs in the state with 150,012 and 134,192.”

Election Irregularities

Further giving the breakdown of the irregularities in the election, CDD highlighted some of the places where the disparities occured in the three states. “Of particular concern were the reports of irregularities in Ogori/Magongo LGA where there were pre-filled election result sheets in areas where voting had not even commenced.

“These concerns were shared publicly and led to significant concern and disturbance in the states and on social media. We are assured that INEC has cancelled voting in those areas and urge the commission to exercise the strongest punishment for those caught in this act.

“This followed reports of party agents who were alleged to have canvassed support for their candidate at the Iluteju PU of Ogori/Magongo LGA before the start of voting activities. There were also reports of the Igalamela LGA chair being caught by security personnel with bullets and wads of naira notes.

“This follows a troubling development in Ward 11 and 12, Nembe LGA in Bayelsa, where election materials were allegedly secretly hijacked to a different location and where agents were reportedly thumbprinting for APC. Our observers reported the presence of military officers in the area where the suspected culprits were arrested and taken to a different location, with gunboats deployed in the area. While we are mindful of the need to confirm this with security agencies, we are also concerned about how such information has been widely reported and, if true, how this does not inspire confidence in the electoral process.

Electoral Violence

Addressing the electoral violence in the three states, CDD highlighted the incidence of ballot box snatching and some malfeasance, which overwhelmed some polling units during the conduct of the elections, “regrettably, electoral violence has remained a sore point in this election. Electoral violence was reported in Dekini LGA, specifically in Agala Ogane PU, Anyigba town, a thug was reportedly shot and killed by military officials while fleeing in an attempt to snatch a ballot box. There was a similar attempt in Ganaja PU, Ajaokuta LGA where the LGA chair was apprehended by voters.

“In Yenagoa LGA, observers reported that one person was shot at Famgbe community, and, in PU 24 Ward, voting ended abruptly when thugs destroyed election materials at about 11:45 am. We note that in these area polling units, there was little to no presence of security officials. Similar instances were reported in Brass PU 7 Ward 7, observers reported that there were no security agents as late as 10:19 am, despite voting having started. Similarly, in PU 9 Ward 4, security officials only arrived at 11:10 am.

“An incident was reported in Imo, PU1, Aladinma Ward, Owerri Municipal LGA; where a former House of Representatives member was reportedly making trouble in the area, leading to arguments with other party agents.

BVAS Functionality
The organisation also submitted that there were pockets of irregularities in the three states, adding that its observers observed that the Bimodal Verification Accreditation System failed to work as expected in some of the polling units in Kogi state. “Notably, in Kabawa PU, Lokoja LGA, the BVAS machine was not working and electoral officers resorted to the use of Voter Identification Number (VIN) to accredit voters. Similarly, the BVAS machine was reportedly unable to display accredited voter information in PU 047, Adankolo Open Space Ward, Lokoja LGA”.