September 21, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
The coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs), the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR), have said it observes voters inducement with N5,000 to N10,000 offer at the ongoing September 21, 2024, Edo Gubernatorial election.
In a statement co-signed by Yunusa Z. Ya’u, Mimidoo Achakpa and Franklin Oloniju, noted that voters were also induced by food items in several polling units in Egor, Oredo and Owan-West LGAs.
“Situation Room observers reported widespread instances of blatant vote buying and selling across several polling units, despite the huge presence of security personnel,” the group said in a statement on Saturday afternoon.
“The price of votes ranged from ₦5,000 to ₦10,000 per voter in several locations, including PU08 and 09 Ward 2, Owan-East LGA; PU 02 Ward 2, Etsako-West LGA; and several polling units in Egor, Oredo and Owan-West LGAs.
“In some cases, voters were also induced with food items such as bread,” the group said.
However, the coalition acknowledged the efforts made by the Nigerian Police Force at the ongoing election with the arrest of two vote traders in George Idah Primary School, Ward 2, Oredo Local Government Area while also commending the police for the peaceful election.
The Situation Room is made up of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) including Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), YIAGA Africa, are TAF Africa.
Others are Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability (formerly Alliance for Credible Elections, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Kimpact Development Initiative, Democratic Action Group (DAG), Women’s Rights to Education Programme, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), DIG Ebonyi, New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), Life And Peace Development Organization (LAPDO), Rural Youth Initiative, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA) and Josemaria Escriva Foundation.
