A political think‑tank, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), raised concerns on Saturday about the credibility of the recent governorship elections, citing alleged vote‑selling, violence and intimidation. While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) performed better in logistics—ensuring the prompt arrival of electoral officials—there were occasional problems with the bi‑modal Voters Accreditation System.
The CDD’s Executive Director, Idayat Hassan, issued a preliminary statement on the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections based on data from 1,500 observers deployed nationwide. She noted that vote‑buying was more prevalent in the governorship contests than in the February 25 presidential poll, a trend observed across all six geopolitical zones. In the North‑West, observers in all seven states reported increased vote‑trading by political party agents, who used cash, food items, wrappers and “credit vouchers” that would be redeemed after the results. In the North‑East, party agents in Taraba infiltrated voter queues, pretended to be voters and offered cash for votes. In the South‑East, APGA and LP agents used phones, souvenirs and other materials to entice voters in Anambra State. In the South‑South, several states reported that voters were asked to prove they had voted before being paid, with agents compiling lists of voters in Esan Central LGA, Edo State. Hassan suggested this reflects the heightened political environment of governorship polls, the importance of local personalities in state politics, and shortages of fuel and naira.
Regarding violence, the pro‑democracy organization said the incidents underscored the charged atmosphere of the polls. Hassan reported that party agents and politically sponsored thugs were involved in violent acts, and that security officials were noticeably fewer than during the presidential election. Observers in the South‑South, South‑West and North‑West noted a reduced security presence, leading to repeated skirmishes between voters, party agents and officials. For example, observers in Enugu reported clashes between party representatives, while those in Jigawa highlighted similar disputes among self‑professed party members.
The think‑tank identified voter suppression as a major factor shaping the conduct of the elections, noting that thuggery was used to disrupt the process. In Ukanafun LGA, Akwa Ibom, thugs attacked a polling unit and scared away voters; in Emelia LGA, election materials were hijacked at gunpoint; and in Obio Akpor LGA, Rivers State, thugs also disrupted voting.
The CDD also highlighted the role of online falsehoods, pointing to a flood of voter‑intimidation videos circulating online as voters headed to the polls, particularly in Lagos. Professor Adele Jinadu, Chairman of the CDD’s Election Analysis Centre, said voter turnout varied by state, with higher participation in states where incumbents faced strong challenges. He added that in the South‑South, a general sense of discouragement—stemming from the unfavorable presidential outcome—dampened turnout, with voters declaring “there is no point” in voting.
Jinadu’s observation data showed that INEC officials arrived on time and began voting in over 80 % of observed polling units in the South‑West, a trend consistent across all six geopolitical zones. In Anambra State, 75 % of polling units had officials arriving on time, with voting commencing on average at 8:41 a.m. He noted a report from Benue State where INEC officials slept at a polling unit to avoid being late.
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