The Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa (CDD-West Africa), through its Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), reported incidents of vote buying during the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election on Saturday.
According to a statement signed by the Lead, CDD-EAC Observation Mission Ondo 2024, Professor Victor Adetula, and the Director, CDD-West Africa, Dr. Dauda Garuba, voters in Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ward 09, Unit 003 (Irowa, Ilutitun 3) were solicited for their votes, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) offering ₦10,000 per voter and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) offering ₦3,000. The CDD-EAC reported evidence of vote-buying in Odigbo LGA, Ward 01, Unit 001 (Oja Baale, Agbabu), with the APC providing ₦10,000 and the PDP offering ₦5,000 per voter.
Observers sent by the organization also reported that some party agents began transferring money to voters to avoid having to carry cash. In Ese-Odo, Ward 07, Unit 013 (Tari Ama Zion Ugo Community, Arogbo Ward 2), voters were offered ₦3,000 and ₦5,000 by the PDP and APC, respectively.
“In places where the practice of ‘see and buy’ was difficult, because of the presence of security personnel, voters were seen capturing their ballot with phones and presented as proof to be paid,” according to the organization.
It stated that a dispute requiring security agents’ intervention occurred at Ifedore LGA, Ward 1, PU 12 (Olafare), when an APC agent attempted to help a person with impairments in voting, but was aggressively resisted by a PDP agent.
It stated that security authorities had to be encouraged to intervene when APC supporters overpowered PDP agents in Akoko North West, Oke Agbe Ward 3, Unit 17, the polling unit of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The organization, nevertheless, praised security officials for their contributions to crowd control, “however, minimal efforts were made to prevent vote buying and open campaigning at the polling units.”
While bemoaning the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System’s breakdown, the CDD-EAC spotted at least one in each polling unit.
The CDD-EAC concluded by asking all stakeholders in the electoral process to uphold the rule of law and due process as the election, collation, and announcement of results approach their completion.