The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR), a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), reports widespread vote buying and selling in the Edo State Governorship election.
“Situation Room observers noted widespread instances of blatant vote buying and selling across several polling units, despite the significant presence of security personnel,” the group said in a statement co-signed by Yunusa Z. Ya’u, Mimidoo Achakpa, and Franklin Oloniju.
According to the group, votes were sold for ₦5,000 to ₦10,000 per voter in various locations, including: PU08 and 09 Ward 2, Owan-East LGA, PU 02 Ward 2, Etsako-West LGA, several polling units in Egor, Oredo, and Owan-West LGAs.
In some cases, voters received food items like bread as inducements.
The Situation Room commended the peaceful conduct of voters and urged them to remain calm throughout the process.
The group also acknowledged the arrest of two alleged vote traders at George Idah Primary School, Ward 2, Oredo Local Government Area.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room comprises various 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.
