The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has decried political parties agents interference and vote trading in the November 8 Anambra State governorship election.

KDI, in mid-electiom findings made available to newsmen in Akwa, said the interference and vote buying by party agents “represents a fundamental assault on the integrity of the electoral process, undermining the principles of free, fair, and credible elections.”

The KDI, in the mid-electiom statement signed by its Team Lead, Bukola Idowu, stated that failure
of INEC officials and security personnel at affected polling units to curtail these
activities raise serious concerns about enforcement of electoral guidelines and protection of voters’ rights.

“One of the most concerning
developments observed across polling units is the pervasive interference by
political party agents in the voting process.

“Our observation documentation
shows systematic violations of electoral guidelines by agents representing
primarily the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress
(APC), and Young Progressives Party (YPP).

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“Party agents were observed
engaging in blatant vote-buying operations, approaching voters with cash inducements ranging from ₦3,000 to ₦10,000, establishing “verification points”
where voters received payments after casting their ballots.

“These violations
represent a fundamental assault on the integrity of the electoral process, undermining the principles of free, fair, and credible elections, while the failure
of INEC officials and security personnel at affected polling units to curtail these
activities raise serious concerns about enforcement of electoral guidelines and protection of voters’ rights.”

Key Observations

The CSO said it observers in the field recorded late “commencement was due to absence of
INEC officials in some places, voters and at the instance of INEC ad-hoc officials they link this to the absence of security officials,” adding that compromise of ballot secrecy
across several polling units, and relatively efficient BVAS was also observed.

KDI said despite the huge number of security personnel deployed to the state for the election, troubling disconnect
between these figures and actual ground presence was observed.

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“Our observers have documented sparse and uneven distribution of security personnel at polling units, with many locations having minimal or no visible security presence, while security forces appear concentrated at strategic locations – There were report of
security concentration in Anambra South – like Aguata but major urban centers, and semi-urban LGAs seems to have sparse. Reports show that in Awka South
LGA, Ward 19, PU-21, as at 9:57am, no security officer was seen,” it said.

On violence, KDI said it observers recorded “twenty-one (21) incidents of violence across the
over 1000 polling units observed,” adding, “these incidents involved group clashes, voter intimidation and harassment, physical assault, and ballot box snatching.”

It further said: “Of the
reported cases, seven (7) in Oyi, three (3) occurred in Ogbaru, Njikoka, and one
(1) in Anambra East, Anaocha, Nnewi North, Orunmba and Nnewi South.

“The perpetrators were identified as party agents and voters, with one incident
involving a security officer who discharged tear gas at a polling location.”

The November 8 Anambra State governorship election has been marred by low voters turn and apathy.

In Akwa, the state capital,
some tricycle riders were also seen going about their normal businesses, just as some business owners opened their shops for businesses.

In the state capital, accreditation of voters did not start in many polling units visited by our correspondent until about 9:00am.

At Polling Unit 009, Ward 06, Akwa South Local Government Area, our correspondent observed that accreditation started at about a few minutes past 9:00am with low turnout.

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At Polling Unit 011, Ward 06, Akwa II, Akwa South Local Government Area, the Presiding Officer, Chiamaka Agbakoba,
told our correspondent that she started accreditation at about 9:15 am because “we were waiting for party agents to arrive, and more so there were not many voters on the ground.”

Salas Okosun, Presiding Officer, Polling Unit 018, Ward 06, Udeozo Primary School, Akwa South, said “we started accreditation exactly 9:am but voters have not been coming. As you can see, no one to capture, so we are still waiting, once it’s 2:30pm, we are done.”

Olusola Abdulsalam, Presiding Officer, Polling 017, Ward 06, Akwa II, Akwa South, said “as at 10:08, we have captured 15 voters. They have been coming out little by little.”

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Presiding Officer, Polling Unit 023, Ward 06, Akwa II, Akwa South Local Government Area, Mercy Ezeah, said “we have captured 23 voters as at 10:37am, out of the total of 178 voters we are expecting.”

The narrative was however different in Polling Unit 007, Ward 05, as voters turned out to cast their ballots at the unit.

Speaking to our correspondent, a voter, Anene Chukwudezie, lamented that he was disenfranchised because INEC did not print his Permanent Voter Card.

He said: “I cannot vote for the candidate of my choice because INEC did not print my PVC. And it is not me alone, over 30% of voters in Ward 04, Akwa South have this same problem, with my findings, so they cannot vote. And this is why some of our people decide to sit at home.”

The deputy governor of Edo state, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa says Governor Monday Okpebholo’s performance within his first year in office surpasses some state governors achievements in eight years of office.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, the deputy governor was quoted to have said this when he played host to delegation of Esan Daughters Development Initiative of Edo State in his office on Thursday.

He assured that Okpebholo’s administration has just taken off, adding that with the support of the people, Edo will record remarkable achievements in few months to come.

Idahosa noted that with his SHINE Agenda, Okpebholo is poised to entrench good governance across the nook and cranny of the state.

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He particularly noted that Okpebholo policies are people centric.

While noting that the unity of the people remains the governor’s primary concern, Idahosa reeled out names of Esan extraction who made impact on Esan land and Edo State in general.

According to him, “Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, to me, is God’s gift to Esan land,” and, “the entire Edo State people are happy with him.”

The President, Esan Daughters Development Initiative of Edo State, Mrs. Kate Osaro commended Idahosa for his complementary role to Okpebholo.

According to her, their complementary roles have ensured peace reign in the state and solicited for its sustainability.

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In related vein, Idahosa received and congratulated Management, Staff and Students of “Our Lady of Mercy Nursery and Basic School” on their forthcoming school’s 50th anniversary.

He appreciated the school’s management for helping to shape and impact the lives of students and society.

He deemed it an honour having the organizing committee lead pupils of the school to his office.

He encouraged them (Pupils) to aspire to greater heights by participating in politics to becoming future governors and deputy governors of the state.”

READ ALSO:

Speaking earlier on behalf of the school’s Golden Jubilee Organizing
Committee, Amb. Philip Ogbebor
said, “we are grateful for the role that the Edo State Government has played in supporting education in the state.

“Your leadership and commitment to enhancing the educational sector have not gone unnoticed, and we recognize the significant strides being made under your administration.

“We believe that education is the key to unlocking a brighter future for our children, and we are pleased to be part of that effort in the state.”