The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Centre LSD has reported low voter turnout and incidents of vote buying in the Edo State gubernatorial election held on Saturday.
This was contained in its interim report on the Edo State gubernatorial election signed by the Executive Director of the center, Mr. Monday Osasah.
According to the report, the lack of voter’s apathy comes in despite improved logistics and peaceful voting process in most areas.
“Centre LSD, which deployed observers to monitor the election across selected Local Government Areas, LGAs, reported that while the voting exercise proceeded as scheduled in most polling units, voter apathy was widespread.
“The turnout of voters was generally low. The apathy was widespread in most places we observed.”
“At UNIBEN Ekehuan Campus, Ward 3, Polling Unit 1, only 93 voters out of more than 700 registered were accredited to vote. Similarly, a low turnout was recorded at Emopkae Primary School, Mission Road, Ward 4, where the Edo State governor cast his vote.”
The report also revealed weather conditions as a factor contributing to the low turnout in certain areas.
“Heavy rainfall in Ward 9, Units 6, 7, 31, and 32 of Ikpoba Okha LGA reportedly discouraged many voters. However, some polling units, such as Ward 5 in Ugboko, Orhionmwon LGA, saw an appreciable turnout despite the rain.”
“Vote buying was another issue raised in the interim report.”
Observers from Centre LSD reported that party agents were seen offering financial incentives to voters in Ugiomo Primary School, Oredo LGA.
“Incidents of vote buying were witnessed where some party agents were seen wooing voters with cash,” the report stated.
On the logistical front, Centre LSD acknowledged improvements in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s, INEC preparations compared to previous elections.
“There was an appreciable improvement in INEC’s logistics arrangement and deployment,” said Mr. Monday Osasah, Executive Director of Centre LSD.
The report also confirmed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS machines functioned smoothly during the accreditation process, with no issues observed by the Centre’s monitors.
The center also revealed that the security presence at polling stations was described as encouraging, contributing to a generally peaceful voting exercise.
The organization urged stakeholders, particularly political parties, to take steps to eliminate vote buying in future elections, warning that it undermines the integrity of the electoral process.
The organization also called for intensified voter education and mobilization efforts ahead of future elections to address voter apathy.
“All stakeholders, especially INEC and political parties, should emphasize voter education and mobilization in the run-up to future elections,” the report advised.
