By Angela Atabo
#TrackNigeria: YIAGA AFRICA, a civil society organisation on Sunday listed Adamawa, Born,Nasarawa, Kwara, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna and Zamfara as states with alleged most reports of vote buying during the March 9 elections.
Dr Hussaini Abdu ,Chair, Watching The Vote Working(WTV) Group of YIAGA AFRICA made this known at a news conference on the governorship, state houses of assembly and Area Council elections in Auja.
Abdu said that YIAGA AFRICA sent out 682 observers to monitor the elections in states and received a total of 124 confirmed incidents reports during the governorship election.
“WTV observers reported cases of voter inducement and vote buying across the states.
“Specifically, YIAGA AFRICA received the most report of voter inducement and vote buying in Adamawa, Borno, Nasarawa, Kwara, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna and Zamfara States. ‘’
Abdu said that the group also noted that accredited observers and party agents were not allowed to observe the collation process in areas like Uruan, Ukanafun and Ikot-Ekpene LGAs in Akwa Ibom State.
He said others were in Ado LGA in Benue State, Ethiope East, Ughelli south and Ughelli North LGAs in Delta State, Asari-Toru, Eleme, Gokana, Opobo/Nekoro and Oyigbo LGAs of Rivers State.
He named other places to include Silame and Yabo LGAs of Sokoto State, Tsafe LGA in Zamfara State, and in Ohaozara LGA collation center in Ebonyi State.
Abdu said YIAGA AFRICA also noted incidence of military personnel chasing away observers and some party agents in some collation centres.
He said that WTV observers reported cases where collation officers declined to collate results at the LGA level or failed to announce results at the LGA levels in Lagos,Ebonyi ,Oyo and Katsina.
He said that the announcement of the governorship results in Ibadan North LGA in Ibadan, Ahoada East LGA in Rivers state andIbesikpoAsutan and Akamkpa LGAs in Akwa Ibom State were disrupted.
He said that there were also reports of attempts to disrupt Results collation in some places .
Abdu said that YIAGA AFRICA was concerned with efforts by the political class to undermine democratic institutions like INEC and Nigeria Police.
He said that the do-or-die attitude of the political class where agencies of state like the Nigerian army were deployed to interfere with the electoral process in spite of legal limits to their involvement in the elections was unacceptable.
He said that this could imperil Nigeria’s democracy if not addressed.
Abdu condemned the destruction and vandalisation of INEC offices all in bid to prevent the electoral commission from conducting elections.
He said that the common good should be the ultimate goal of public leadership but it appears, politicians are determined to subvert the electoral process for their personal gains.
He said that the group was also worried with the reports on non-compliance with electoral guidelines and procedures lapses in our electoral process could potentially undermine the integrity of elections.
He condemned the attack on journalists and civil society actors during the 2019 elections as journalists and observers were intimidated, abducted and assaulted. (NAN)
