Gbenro Adesina
As the world awaits the declaration of the winner of the Edo State governorship election, which was conducted on Saturday September 19, 2020 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with collation of the results ongoing, election observation groups – Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and Edo Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO) have rated the election as largely ‘free and fair’.
The group, however, flagged incidences of voter inducement across the 18 local governments in the state by the groups.
This was disclosed in their preliminary report released on Saturday and signed by the TMG Chairperson, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi.
The group noted that despite the few lapses observed, the election was relatively well executed and largely free and fair.
They cited impressive voters’ turnout, fair and adequate security, adequate election materials as some of the incidents and contributed to the success of the election.
The reports stated: “Voters turnout was impressive in most polling units across the 18-local government observed. Security was fairly adequate in most places. This provided the confidence that most voters required to come out to vote. The election processes in most places were peaceful and orderly. Election materials were generally adequate. INEC Ad-hoc staff showed commitment and largely appeared well trained.
“There was not much compliance with Covid-19 protocols in terms of social distancing, use of face masks, and hand sanitizer in most polling units, although provision for hand sanitizer were made in many polling units”.
According to the report, “Incidences of voter inducement were noticed across the 18 local governments with the two major parties, APC and PDP involved and trying to outdo each other. Suspected party leaders were glaringly sharing money to group of voters mostly women in many polling units. In some cases, some unscrupulous INEC officials and security agents were involved in the bribe saga at the polling units.
“Some party agents were seen giving out money, food, wrappers, (clothe) face masks to voters at the polling centers. Few Incidences of Illegal thump printing of ballot papers/stuffing and snatching were reported across many local government areas in the state. Pockets of electoral violence and intimidation were also noticed as a method of scaring away voters to disenfranchise them. Voters and security agents resisted in some instances”.
“TMG Election Observation Platform is of the preliminary opinion that the election was relatively well executed and largely free and fair. The lapses observed were consistent with our experiences in previous elections. Our final report, which will be issued later, will expand on some of other issues observed”, the report concludes.
