The 2024 governorship election in Ondo State is under intense scrutiny, drawing attention both locally and internationally.
The CLEEN Foundation, a prominent Civil Society Organization specializing in election security in Nigeria, has deployed observers across the state to monitor the conduct of security personnel throughout the election process.
With a notable deployment of 36,000 officers by the Nigeria Police Force, including 15,732 unarmed personnel across the 3,933 polling units, and an additional 6,225 officers from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), security coverage is robust.
CLEEN Foundation’s observers aim to assess the compliance of security personnel with established laws and ethical standards governing elections in Nigeria.
Findings on security personnel conduct
Reports from CLEEN Foundation’s observers confirmed the widespread presence of security personnel across Ondo State.
In areas such as Odigbo LGA Ward 10 PU 40 and Akure South LGA Ward 5 PU 29, officers were actively positioned, contributing to an overall sense of safety.
Observers noted that a majority of security officers arrived early, with many present at polling stations as early as 7:00 a.m., ensuring a smooth start to election proceedings.
Each polling station visited by CLEEN observers had at least two security personnel, with some having three or more officers.
Identification was also well-handled, as all security officers wore name tags, meeting the election duty code of conduct.
CLEEN Foundation’s data revealed that 96% of observers reported positive interactions, describing officers as approachable and professional.
This conduct has been lauded by CLEEN Foundation as a model of good practice, which the organization hopes will continue through the entire election cycle.
Additional observations
While security was generally effective, technical issues were noted with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) at Akure North Ward 4, Polling Unit One, where delays in voter verification occurred due to facial recognition malfunctions.
Observers also reported incidents of vote-buying, with amounts ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 naira per vote at polling stations like Okitipupa Ward 2 PU 16.
In conclusion, CLEEN Foundation commends the professionalism shown by security personnel and encourages their continued commitment as polls close and results are collated.
The organization, alongside the Police Service Commission, will maintain its vigilance, ensuring a transparent and credible election process that respects the democratic will of Ondo State’s citizens.