Ondo Election: CDD Carpets Political Parties, Agents Over Vote Buying 

By Philip Tayo 

The Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, has carpeted the three major political parties, PDP, APC and Labour Party and it’s agents of involvement in vote buying during the Ondo State governorship election held throughout the 18 local government areas of the State on Saturday. 

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Addressing the Election Observer Group, the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, on Saturday, Seyi Awojolugbe queried why voters or the electoral handlers have continued to engaged in vote buying despite sensitization against the trend. 

They called for action against all forms of inducements that were prevalent from the commencement of the poll across the 18 LGA’s of the State.

The Campaign for Democracy and Development equally condemned the action of the voters displaying their choices publicly before casting their ballots. 

The CDD added further in it’s statement why it is important calling the attention of Journalists to misconducts during post – election in the State by the Chair of the Lead CDD.

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The Centre for Democracy and Development, represented by Mimidoo Achakpa and Seyi Awojolugbe respectively, in their separate presentations, gave details of infractions observed during the poll. 

Presenting findings of her group, Awojolugbe said, “CDD-Election Analysis Centre notes a lot of instances of vote buying In Okitipupa LGA, Ward 09, Unit 003 (Irowa, Ilutitun 3), voters were solicited for their votes, with APC allegedly offering N10,000 per voter and PDP N3,000. In Odigbo LGA, Ward 01, Unit 001 (Oja Baale, Agbabu), reports of vote-buying were noted, with APC allegedly offering N10,000 and PDP N3,000 per voter. 

“Our observers also noted that some party agents started transferring money to voters to circumvent having to hold cash. In Ese-Odo, Ward 07, Unit 013 (Tari Ama Zion Ugo Community, Arogbo Ward 2), Vote-buying was observed at this polling unit, with PDP offering N3,000 and APC offering N5,000 to voters,

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“Vote buying and other forms of inducement were prevalent from the start of the poll CDD observers watching the process in Ward 5, PU 001, located at St Johns Primary School, Iba Akoko South East spotted APC leaders writing down the names of those who voted for their candidate. Subsequently, a card was given to them and they were instructed to converge at an agreed location where cash would be disbursed to them.

“In Ward 005, PU 001, St Barnabas Primary School, Ifon, the CDD observers saw policemen arguing over money shared by a party stalwart. The policemen reportedly frowned that about ten of them were given one hundred thousand, while only one official from another branch of the armed services allegedly got N15,000.”

She further disclosed that there were reported incidents of voter’s suppression at Akoko North West, Oke Agbe Ward 3, Unit 17.

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Commending Ondo voters for being peaceful during the poll, Awojolugbe urged the stakeholders in the electoral process to ensure adherence to the rule of law and due process.

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