Yiaga Africa’s Watching The Vote initiative has reported widespread incidents of vote buying during Saturday’s Ondo governorship election, with some voters allegedly accepting as little as N5,000 in exchange for their ballots.
The findings were shared in a preliminary report presented in Akure by Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, Chair of the 2024 Ondo Election Mission, and Cynthia Mbamalu, Director of Programs at Yiaga Africa, alongside board members Prof. Chris Kwaja and Prof. Nnamdi Aduba.
The report highlighted multiple instances of vote buying, including an agent offering N20,000 to voters at polling units in Odulufe, Omoke, Odosika, and Ogubgobe in the Ileooluji II ward. Despite clear evidence of vote trading, security personnel did not intervene. Additionally, at the Ogun/Saruku Area polling unit in Ifedore LGA, voters allegedly showed their marked ballots to APC agents in exchange for cash, while both APC and PDP agents were observed bribing voters with amounts ranging from N5,000 to N10,000 at Elegiri/Ediro Compound polling unit.
Nwagwu condemned the rising trend of vote buying, saying it undermines election integrity and deepens political inequality. He praised the Department of State Security (DSS) for apprehending a suspect involved in vote trading at the St. Stephen Polling Unit in Ward 4, Akure. He also called on political parties to take responsibility for addressing vote buying, which continues to mar the electoral process.
While the lead-up to the election was peaceful, election day commenced smoothly, with voters arriving early at polling units. According to Mbamalu, INEC and transport unions successfully deployed election materials and officials across the state. By 7:30 a.m., officials had arrived at 71% of polling units, and by 9:30 a.m., voting was underway at 91% of the observed locations.
However, the report noted incidents like the denial of access to a Yiaga observer at the Igbelowowa Methodist Primary School polling unit in Idanre LGA. Additionally, frustrated voters at Leo Hospital polling unit in Akure South LGA disrupted voting due to technical issues with the BVAS device, until security intervened.
Yiaga Africa urged INEC to adhere strictly to collation guidelines and called for unhindered access for party agents, accredited media, and election observers. The report also recommended that security agencies maintain professionalism, sanction violations of the Electoral Act, and ensure voters’ rights are protected.
“All stakeholders, including INEC, political parties, security agencies, and citizens, must remain committed to a peaceful conclusion of the election process,” the report stated, emphasizing the importance of orderliness during voting, counting, and results collation stages.
