Ondo 2020: Massive vote-buying, breach of COVID-19 protocols characterise election – CDD

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Pic.12. A nursing mother voters during Ondo 2020 Governorship Election on Saturday (10/10/20). 05678/10/10/2020/Olayinka Bode-Are/BJO/NAN

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)  has said that there were cases of vote buying and non-adherence to COVID-19 protocol in Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

In its preliminary statement on the conduct of the election, the CDD said that political actors attempted to outspend one another and those engaged in the act adopted tactics to induce voters, while evading the watch of security officials and election observers.

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“CDD observers documented attempts by political actors to outspend one another by making available large sums disbursed to community leaders for onward distribution to voters,” the report which was read by its director, Idayat Hassan, said.

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“CDD observation showed that where in the past the modus operandi has been to distribute cash discreetly at points close to the polling unit, the new tactic is to create outposts where voters can go to collect cash after showing evidence that they voted for the party.

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“In Ondo governorship election, there was the trend wherein bulk sums ranging from N150,000 to N600,000 were earmarked for each polling unit across the LGA and handed over to popular figures, especially youth groups to share to voters in their areas.”

CDD also observed that money was transferred electronically  to voters after proving that  they  voted for the relevant party.

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“Our observers reported that party agents largely stayed away from coordinating vote-buying,” the report stated.

“In ward 11, Polling Unit 021, Akure South LGA, CDD observed that political parties designated someone, who is not a party agent, but appears to be neutral to direct voters to an outpost where cash could be distributed. In several instances, disagreement between vote buyers and sellers caused altercation.

“CDD observers reported tension at One Aro, Polling Unit 6, when the money for the vote-buying did not go round, thereby upsetting a voter who had cast his ballot for the buying party.

“In Polling Unit 005, Akoko South, observers reported party agents openly inducing voters. CDD observers similarly noted instances where voters on their own displayed their ballots to assure a particular party agent they have cast their ballot for the party.”

CDD added that there were also breaches of the COVID-19 protocols as some voters used face masks while many others did not. It also said there was no   two-tier queue system across the polling units.

“CDD has reached the conclusion that the blatant disregard for COVID-prevention protocol is a sectoral problem caused by the belief that the virus should not be as dreaded as it has been said to be,” the group said.

READ ALSO: Ondo 2020: Speed boat conveying INEC staff, election materials capsizes

“This resulted in general non-compliance to key protocols for preventing further spread of the novel coronavirus. I n exceptional cases where compliance was observed, it was limited mainly to the wearing of face masks.”

“ CDD observers reported an outbreak of violence in Ijomu Polling Unit 7, where a voter was attacked with a machete and badly cut before law enforcement agents arrived at the scene.

“The bigger problem with respect with this particular incident is that law enforcement officers did not attempt to fish out and bring the perpetrators of that particular attack to book.”

CDD, however, commended INEC for improvements in the deployment of logistics and the timely arrival of materials to polling units.

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