Yiaga Africa has accused members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of engaging in vote-buying during the Ondo State governorship election held on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
According to the organisation, voters were allegedly paid between N5,000 and N20,000 to secure their votes.
In a statement jointly signed by Ezenwa Nwagwu, Chair of the 2024 Ondo Election Mission, and Cynthia Mbamalu, Director of Programs for Yiaga Africa, the group highlighted widespread reports of vote-buying at several polling units.
They noted that agents at Odulufe, Omoke, Odosika, and Ogubgobe polling units in the Ileooluji II ward of Ileoluji Local Government Area were seen distributing cash to voters.
Yiaga Africa also criticised the security personnel at these polling units for failing to intervene and stop the vote-buying activities.
The organisation reported that at the Ogun/Saruku Area polling unit in Ilara II ward, Ifedore Local Government Area, voters allegedly showed their marked ballot papers to APC agents in exchange for cash.
The statement further alleged that both APC and PDP agents were observed bribing voters with cash incentives ranging from N5,000 to N10,000 at the Elegiri/Ediro Compound polling unit in Ilara I ward, Ifedore LGA.
Yiaga Africa condemned the actions of party agents, stating that such practices undermine the integrity of the electoral process and contribute to political corruption and inequality. The organisation called on authorities to address the issue to ensure a fair and credible election process in the future.
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