Condemns Vote Buying
Ekiti Decides: CTA commends INEC, security agencies, electorates, says election was violence free
An observer group, Centre for Transparency Advocacy, CTA, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies and Ekiti electorates for the free and fair election devoid of violence.
However, the group worried over the inability of INEC and the security agents to check vote trading a situation it said dent the exercise.
The Executive Director, CTA, Faith Nwadishi said during a Press Conference with Newsmen on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti noted that the group deployed 50 citizen observers to the field who discovered compliance of electorates, early opening of polling units, effectiveness of the Biomodal Verification System, BVAS, and maximum security but unabated inducement of voters.
Her words: “Our observers in the field indicate that voter accreditation and voting started on time in most of the polling units observed.
“While there were hitches in a few polling units, our observers report indicated that about 80% of polling units opened on time.
BVAS Performance
Compared to other states were BVAS was deployed, reports from the field indicate that the BVAS performed very well in the Ekiti elections with voter accreditation taking between 2 to 3 minutes on the average.
CTA notes with satisfaction the performance of INEC officials during the election. In most of the polling units covered by our observers, polling officials exhibited professionalism and knowledge of their duties.
Our observers report indicate that security agents generally arrived promptly at the polling units and were professional in their conducts especially in the maintenance of law and order. We further observed that there was synergy and networking among the various security agencies.
From our observers’ report, voter turnout was generally impressive. We therefore commend the Ekiti electorates for their enthusiastic turnout.
The report from the field indicates that the voting process was generally peaceful except for pockets of violence is some polling units.
In conclusion, the CTA commends the INEC, security agencies and the good people of Ekiti state for playing their part towards the growth and development of our democracy.”
She however decried the menance of vote buying which played out during the election, calling on INEC, security agencies and stakeholders to address the trend.
“Regrettably, our observers reported that the phenomenon of vote buying that is fast becoming a major feature of our democracy was manifest during this election.
Our observers also reported parties paying as much as N7000 for votes while in some instances packs of Sphagetti and Semovita were shared to voters. It is heartwarming to observe that some culpable party agents were arrested by the agents of EFCC.
INEC, the Security Agencies and other stakeholders need to work out measures to effectively address this ugly phenomenon.”