CSO Coalition Reports Widespread Vote Buying in Edo Governorship Election
Benin City, Nigeria – A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), under the umbrella of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR), has raised alarm over widespread vote buying in the ongoing Edo State Governorship election. In a statement co-signed by Yunusa Z. Ya’u, Mimidoo Achakpa, and Franklin Oloniju, the group expressed concern about the blatant exchange of votes for money across various polling units.
The group reported that the price of votes ranged from ₦5,000 to ₦10,000 in several locations, with some voters being offered food items, such as bread, as inducements. Among the areas highlighted were PU08 and PU09, Ward 2, Owan-East LGA, PU02, Ward 2, Etsako-West LGA, and multiple polling units in Egor, Oredo, and Owan-West LGAs.
“Despite the heavy presence of security personnel, Situation Room observers documented instances of vote buying and selling across numerous polling units,” the coalition said.
The group did acknowledge some action taken against vote trading, citing the arrest of two individuals at George Idah Primary School, Ward 2, in Oredo Local Government Area.
The Situation Room commended voters for their peaceful conduct during the election and urged them to maintain calm as the process continued.
The coalition consists of various CSOs, including the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), and YIAGA Africa, among others.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Frank Mba acknowledged the challenges law enforcement faces in tackling vote buying, describing it as one of the most difficult offences to manage. Mba noted that much of the vote buying happens behind closed doors, out of the view of law enforcement, making it hard to police.
“Vote buying is one of the most difficult offences to actually police and manage… Sometimes, they take place in the bedrooms of citizens, and we don’t have the capacity to police every bedroom,” he said, while promising that offenders caught in public would be dealt with.
The Edo State Governorship election has been marred by reports of voter inducement, casting a shadow over what many hoped would be a free and fair process.