Yiaga Africa has encouraged eligible voters in Osun State, southwest Nigeria, to shun all forms of voter inducement as it undermines the democratic process.
The election monitoring group also urged all registered voters in the state who have not collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to do so and exercise their electoral right.
Based on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) schedule, registered voters in the state are expected to go to the polls on 16 July to elect their governor for another four years.
In its latest pre-election report, the nonprofit said that the major political parties have intensified their campaigns, deploying both legal and illegal antics in an attempt to win the race to the government house in Osogbo, the state capital.
Yiaga Africa also raised concerns around the strategies deployed to ensure that the over 333,179 newly produced PVCs are collected by voters before the election and the increase in the rate of thuggery and activities of cultists ahead of the election.
According to the report, the pre-election environment has also been characterised by defections, alignment and realignment as part of an effort by political parties and candidates to gain political favour going into the election and with the 2023 polls in calculations.
Yiaga Africa said events associated with voter inducement were documented in Ife Central, Ife North, Ifedayo, Ilesa West and Odo-Otin area councils, with food items such as garri and beans distributed to people as campaign strategy.
‘The distribution of money, gifts and food items to induce voters by political parties and candidates featured throughout the pre-election campaign period as observed and reported by Yiaga Africa’s LTOs. This ugly trend is undermining the credibility of electoral mandates’, the statement read.
‘It is barely [ten] days to the Osun governorship election, and the rate of voter inducement across the state is increasing.
‘Indicating that money may be a defining factor in the election on Saturday, July 16th, 2022. Yiaga Africa is therefore concerned that this practice of vote merchandising, if not curbed, will consistently delegitimise political mandate and undermine the electoral process.
‘Yiaga Africa is specifically worried about the report from Atakunmosa West local government area of collusion with an INEC staff to sell prospective voters’ PVCs for the purpose of malpractice ahead of the elections. INEC needs to ensure immediate investigation of this report and commence disciplinary processes’.
The civil society organisation (CSO) commended INEC for the implementation of the preparatory activities ahead of the poll but also demanded it intensifies the education of citizens and stakeholders on the consequences of vote-trading, especially on election day.
It also demanded security agencies ensure they arrest and prosecution of persons involved in any form of violence and voter inducement in the days leading to the election and on election day.
Photo source: Yiaga Africa
