While the governorship and state legislative polls are underway, the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA Africa) said it recorded and confirmed 15 cases of vote buying and bribery across eight states.
A member of the group’s election analysis committee, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Saturday.
He said the organisation deployed hundreds of observers across the states.
Ezenwa said voters were wooed and ridiculously patronised to sell their votes by politicians and party agents.
In Sarkin Mudu Polling Unit (016), Giade local government area of Bauchi, he alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agents were sighted by YIAGA observers bribing accredited voters “with a thousand naira, a wrapper and a pack of spaghetti each.”
“The voters hand over their ballot papers to party agents in exchange for the bribe.
“A similar report was received from PU 006 Rangan Ward, Warji LGA of Bauchi on the distribution of wrappers, two thousand naira and a pack of spaghetti to voters,” he said.
The statement added that agents working for the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the PDP respectively were observed sharing food, cash and alcoholic drinks with some voters in Apir market square 1, Makurdi, Benue state.
“In PU O6 Ward 05 Isoko North, Delta State, INEC officials for the polling unit received cash gift from the APC party agent present,”
“Interference by Security Agents: A report alleging the abduction of NNPP party stakeholders by DSS operatives has been received from Bichi LGA, Kano state, where DSS operatives are reported to be arresting party agents and key stakeholders of the NNPP,” the statement added.
Yiaga said it also noted several cases of infractions and non-compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act, voter intimidation and attacks and identity and ethnic division across states where elections are being held.
In Lagos State, some unidentified thugs chased voters away from polling units, as they attempted to steal ballot boxes.
It was gathered that at Ward F3 Polling Unit 13, Ago Palace Way, thugs started by chasing voters away with the aim of snatching ballot boxes.
The people ran for safety as the thugs continued to throw chairs and sprayed some chemicals at them.
It was further learnt that the police officer swung into action and arrested one of the thugs while the others fled.
Voting resumed as normalcy was restored.
Also in Lagos, the hope of over 5,000 registered voters in Victoria Garden City was dashed as INEC postponed the governorship and state assembly elections in the 10 polling units in the community.
INEC resident electoral commissioner, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said this while addressing journalists on Saturday.
Agbaje said corps members deployed as ad hoc staff were unwilling to enter the estate claiming that they were held hostage during the February 25 presidential and national assembly elections.
Agbaje also said the commission’s ad hoc staff set up voting materials in front of the estate on Saturday but the estate residents claimed that hoodlums might disrupt the process.
“So they did not feel secure and could not cast their votes outside the estate,” he said.
The REC said the situation was difficult for security agents to contain hence, he and his team had to visit the area.
“We have eight polling units here with 6,024 registered voters and out of which 5,624 people have their PVCs,” he said, adding that two other polling units at the estate’s main gate were also affected. “Eight here (in the estate) and two outside,” he noted.
“After due consultation and further directive from the national headquarters (we resolved) that we should remobilise here tomorrow (Sunday) morning by 08:30 a.m. to conduct the elections.
“By 08:30 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday), we will reconvene here.”
While confirming that the chairman of the security committee of the estate had assured the commission of the safety of corps members and INEC staff and voters, Agbaje said the last person in the queue by 2.30 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Premium Times and NAN reports
