Edo 2024: CSOs Thump Down Exercise, Lament Vote Buying

By Akinwale Kasali

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, and the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, NCSSR, have expressed disappointment at the conduct of the Edo Governorship Election.

The CSOs alleged that politicians openly bought votes from electorates for as low as N5000 and a loaf of bread.

The Situation Room observers said that there were widespread instances of blatant vote buying and selling across several polling units in the State despite the heavy  presence of Security Personnel.

It was gathered that 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.

The Group made thia disclosure in a statement co-signed by Yunusa Z. Ya’u, Mimidoo Achakpa and Franklin Oloniju, saying that in some cases, Voters were induced with food items.

It, however, acknowledged that following several complaints by some electorates over the illicit Vote Buying, some Security Agents stormed the Polling Unit and arrested some vote traders in George Idah Primary School, Ward 2, Oredo Local Government Area.

The Situation Room also commended the peaceful conduct of voters and urged them to remain calm throughout the process.

The Situation Room was 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.