Edo Guber Poll: Political parties inducing voters with cash, food, wrappers – Yiaga Africa

Ahead of next Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, a civil society organization, Yiaga Africa has alleged inducement of eligible voters by political parties during campaign tours.

Newspot reports that the organisation made the allegation at a pre-election observation press briefing on Friday in Benin City.

Briefing the press, Cynthia Mbamalu, Director of Programs of the organisation alleged that the indyes d voters are mostly women.

Mbamalu alleged that the incidents took place at Uselu market in Egor LGA, Amiebonkhian community in Esan North East, and Ubiaja, the administrative headquarters of Esan South East LGA.

She claimed that the offences were allegedly committed by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

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According to her, the electoral offences were documented by the organisation’s trained 25 Long Term Observers, LTO, deployed to the 18 Local Government Areas to observe the pre-election environment.

She said Yiaga Africa’s Long Term Observers witnessed and documented political parties and politicians distributing cash, presents and food items to entice voters throughout the pre-election campaigns.

“Similarly, PDP campaigners gave wrappers to women who joined the campaign gathering in the Amiebonkhian community of Esan Noth East LGA.

“In the Ubiaja community of Esan South East LGA, PDP campaigners also gave several store owners shirts, caps, umbrellas, and as much as N2000,” she said.

Mbamalu noted that, as a result of the alleged trends, election mandates are becoming less credible.

The Yiaga Africa Director of Programs added that the security situation in the state is still unstable due to kidnappings and a rise in cult activiites which have resulted in fatalities.

“Citizens are at risk from insecurity, which also provides a window of opportunity for political manipulation of the precarious security environment.

“These cases were mostly reported in Egor, Esan South East and Etsako East Local Government Areas by Yiaga Africa’s Watching the Vote (WTV) and Yiaga Africa’s Long Term Observers (LTOs),” she stated.

She further noted that the integrity of the voting process and its peaceful conduct may be threatened by the unregulated proliferation of such activities.

On insecurity, the organisation recommended that the security agencies should arrest and prosecute all those involved in any form of violence and voter inducement in the days leading to the election.

Yiaga Africa also urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to convene a security meeting to address and resolve the issues raised by the PDP and other aggrieved parties at the September 11, 2024 stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).