The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has questioned the credibility of Saturday’s governorship and state House of Assembly elections, citing alleged vote‑selling, violence and voter intimidation. While the group praised improvements in logistical deployment that led to the prompt arrival of INEC officials, it also noted occasional failures of the Bi‑modal Voter Accreditation System machines. These observations were made in the CDD’s preliminary statement on the Abuja elections.
Executive Director Idayat Hassan briefed journalists, reporting that data from the CDD’s 1,500 observers across the country showed a rise in vote‑buying during the governorship elections compared with the February 25 presidential poll, spanning all six geopolitical zones. In the North‑West, observers in all seven states recorded increased vote‑trading by political party agents, who used cash, food items, wrappers and “credit vouchers” that were to be redeemed after results were declared. In the North‑East, party agents in Taraba State infiltrated queues, posed as 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 party agents demanded proof of ballots before paying voters and compiled lists of supporters in Esan Central LGA, Edo State. Hassan suggested this reflects the heightened political climate around the governorship polls, the importance of local personalities in state politics, and shortages of fuel and naira.
Hassan also expressed concern over insecurity and the reduced presence of security officials compared with the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections. Observers in the South‑South, South‑West and North‑West noted a markedly smaller security presence, leading to repeated skirmishes among voters, party agents and officials. For example, observers in Enugu reported clashes between party representatives, while those in Jigawa noted similar incidents among self‑professed party members. In Ukanafon LGA, Akwa Ibom, thugs attacked a polling unit and scared away voters; election materials were hijacked at gunpoint in Emelia LGA, and thugs disrupted the process in Obio Akpor LGA, both in Rivers State.
Chairman of the CDD’s Election Analysis Centre, Prof. Adele Jinadu, said voter turnout varied by state, with higher participation where incumbents faced strong challenges. He noted that in the South‑South, a general sense of discouragement after the presidential election led many voters to declare “there is no point” in voting. Conversely, observer data showed that INEC officials arrived on time and began voting in over 80 % of observed polling units across the South‑West, a trend consistent across all six geopolitical zones. In Anambra State, 75 % of polling units had officials present on time, with voting commencing on average at 8:41 a.m. Jinadu added that in Benue State, some INEC officials even slept at polling units to avoid being late.
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