Edo Decides: KDI Raises Concerns On Vote Buying, Late Arrival Of Materials

… Faults Late Commencement Of Voting 

By Philip Tayo 

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The KIMPACT Development Initiative today condemned the high rate of vote buying plus the late arrival of election materials to some voting units in Edo State. 

The INEC election observer group, KDI, also expressed worries on the late commencement of voting in most parts of Edo State today.

While speaking at a Press Conference, the KDI Situation Room located at Viewpoint Hotel and Suites in Benin City, the Data Day Centre Team Member, Mr Chris Iziguzo pointed out the above errors.

Iziguzo presenting the election day data revealed that the Country will not control the support of the UK foreign, Commonwealth and development office, FCDO, KDI, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO’s). 

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Iziguzo also stated that the view of the  pre-election security early warning environment Identified early warning signals deployed across the 45 long term security monitors towards gathering the updates, most especially during the week out security information that feed into ESEWS based on globally accepted indicators that have been tested in over 11 countries through the IFES/EVER methodology. 

Reeling out the KDI election day data room on Saturday, Iziguzo justified the need for the data room to join the advocacy on policing and structure thereby embracing professionalism. 

Adding, he berated those who initiated vote buying which resulted to voters and citizens being agitated with potential for violence. 

He identified the issues of challenges faced on the election day to include timing as a result of the officials who refused to sleep over at the RAC centres for early and timely poll opening and the unnecessary delays encountered in materials arriving polling units. 

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He listed other factors to include the security concerns which prompted high presence of security personnels which overwhelmed and created fear in the minds of the voting populace 

Some of the factors were weather-related, transportation issues and vote buying. 

The KDI accused both the politicians and the voters of trading with votes on election day with sums ranging from N1,000, N5,000 and N10,000 and even food items.

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KDI agents also witnessed instances where party agents and voters engaged in electronic money transfers at election centres. 

However, the KDI urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stakeholders, political parties, security agencies and the electorates to uphold the rule of law and ensure a peaceful atmosphere as the results of the election begin to come out.

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