Key Issues in Ondo Governorship Election
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, held on Saturday, November 16. The Election Analysis Centre (EAC) of CDD deployed 104 observers across all 18 local government areas, documenting key aspects of the voting process and highlighting areas of concern.
Commendable INEC Preparedness
The CDD-EAC acknowledged the efficient early deployment of electoral officials, with 99% of polling units visited reporting the arrival of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff before the official start time of 8:30 am. The deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was also noted, with at least one device at every polling unit observed.
However, according to the NGO, isolated issues with the BVAS led to delays in some areas. At the Post Office premises polling unit in Akungba Akoko, technical failures caused voting disruptions, necessitating intervention by security personnel. Similar accreditation challenges were reported in Ondo East, with some voters unable to cast their ballots due to malfunctioning systems.
Concerns Over Electoral Offences
CDD observers raised concerns about electoral malpractice, particularly vote-buying and voter suppression. Incidents of vote trading were widespread, with reports of parties offering varying amounts to secure votes. In Okitipupa and Odigbo local government areas, for example, the organisation said the APC reportedly offered ₦10,000 (ten thousand naira) as inducement for every voter, while the PDP offered between ₦3,000 (three thousand naira) and ₦5,000 (five thousand naira).
“Vote-buying and inducement were prevalent from the start of the polls,” the report stated, highlighting cases where voters were instructed to photograph their ballots as proof before receiving payments.
Security Personnel Performance Mixed
While security personnel were present at all polling units observed, their effectiveness varied. They successfully maintained order in most areas but were criticised for failing to prevent vote buying and open campaigning near polling units. At Ifedore LGA, tensions arose when party agents were accused of monitoring voters’ choices, sparking protests and requiring intervention.
In a troubling incident at Akoko North West, APC supporters allegedly overpowered PDP agents, with security officials initially refusing to intervene until prompted.
Low Voter Turnout and Disinformation Trends
Observers noted a worrying trend of low voter turnout, with some polling units closing early due to a lack of voters. Additionally, the CDD-EAC Countering Disinformation War Room reported a relatively low number of misinformation cases compared to previous elections, though instances of misleading claims were observed during the campaign.
CDD Calls for Action
Prof. Victor Adetula, lead of the CDD-EAC Observation Mission, urged stakeholders to adhere to the rule of law. “We commend voters for their peaceful conduct so far. However, the widespread reports of voter suppression, electoral malpractice, and technical challenges must be addressed to preserve the integrity of the process,” he stated.
Dr. Dauda Garuba, Director of CDD-West Africa, added: “INEC must ensure transparency in the collation and result declaration stages to restore public confidence in the democratic process.”
The final statement from CDD-EAC, detailing post-voting observations and recommendations, is expected in the coming days.
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