How Ondo Votes Traded For N5,000

By Chuks Ekpeneru

The CLEEN Foundation has called for arrest, investigation and prosecution of party agents engaged in vote trading during just concluded Ondo State governorship election.

The NGO, however, noted that the election was relatively peaceful.

In their preliminary report on the conduct of security personnel in the elections, the Foundation observed the disturbing incidents of vote buying and voter inducement across the state.

The report presented by Benson Oluigbuo, Executive Director CLEEN Foundation, said that all the political parties were involved in vote trading, as votes sold for N5,000 across several polling units in the election which held on Saturday 10th October 2020.

He recalled that the Election Security Support Centre (ESSC) of CLEEN Foundation, in collaboration with the Police Service Commission (PSC) observed the conduct of security personnel.

“CLEEN Foundation observed for instance, at Polling Unit 4, Ikare, Akoko North East Local Government Area, there were reported inducement of voters. At Polling Unit 15 & 16, Ondo West, a major political party was observed inducing voters with the sum of N5,000. At Polling Unit 12, Ward 7, Akoko South West Local Government Area, a political party was observed inducing voters with N5,000 with evidence of voting for their party before payment.

“Voters reportedly displayed their ballot to party officials after voting and got paid for the votes. At Unit 1, Ward 5, Akure North, a member of a leading political party was arrested after being involved in vote buying. At Unit 3, Ward 4, Akoko South- West, party agents were observed helping persons with disability to vote. Some voters deliberately revealed whom they had voted for while dropping their thump printed ballot paper into the box, so that they can be paid later”, Oluigbo said.

The executive Director urged INEC to ensure that culprits are duly prosecuted.

“We call for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of party agents engaged in vote trading, he said.

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