Politics
CDD Reveals How Vote Buying, Violence Marred Polls In South-East, North-West
Published
3 months agoon
By
Editor
The Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) has released a report on how vote buying and violence marred the the governorship and state house of assembly elections.
The CDD, in a press statement released on Monday, said vote buying was more in the South-East than in any other geopolitical zones, while violence marred polls in North-West region during March 18th elections.
Recall that the governorship and state house of assembly elections were held on March 18 in 28 states across the country.
According to CDD, voters were more focused on what they would get than the ideology of the candidates.
READ ALSO: 2023 Elections: 21 Reaths Reported On Election Day – EU Mission
It said the vote-trading was made possible due to the prevailing economic hardship amid the current cash crunch.
“In total, 25.3 percent of observers noted vote buying at their polling units across the country with the highest figures reported in the northwest (35.4 percent) and southeast (41.4 percent),” the statement reads.
“In Anambra state, party agents were observed using materials, phones, and other souvenirs to entice voters. In the south-south, multiple party agents reported a desire for voters to show proof of their vote before being paid, with party agents reportedly compiling a list of their voters in Esan Central LGA, Edo state.
“The prevailing economic hardship in the country – 133 million Nigerians were estimated to be multidimensionally poor in 2022 according to the National Bureau of Statistics – and the continued shortages of fuel and particularly Naira were undoubtedly a factor in this.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: EU Mission Knocks INEC, Says Violence, Vote-buying Marred Gov Polls
“Votes were being traded for between N1,000-2,000 in parts of Edo and Benue states for example, with goods of similar value used in many cases in lieu of cash given the continued currency shortages. Across the region, manifestations of vote buying included the use of fabric, toiletries, ‘I-owe-you-vouchers’ and food items.”
The CDD said electoral violence was more in the northwest with voters being threatened with death in some polling units.
“Voter suppression, voter intimidation, and the destruction or theft of election materials predominantly by political party agents and politically aligned thugs were recorded across all six geopolitical zones,” it said.
“A total of 10.8 percent of observed polling units recorded violence and/or fighting; this was most pronounced in the northwest (19.9 percent) and south-south (11.6 percent) geopolitical zones with Bayelsa and Zamfara, the two states with the most incidents recorded by our observers.
“These violent incidents were often focused in political strongholds of opposition or perceived opponents which suggests that the use of BVAS – which can limit overvoting in principle has resulted in a more concerted effort to stymie votes than to try and stuff ballot boxes in order to rig the outcome of an election.
READ ALSO: Gunmen Kidnap INEC Electoral Officer In Zamfara With Election Results
“Conventional forms of voter suppression were recorded by observers across the northwest zone, and most apparent in Zamfara where the bandits and vigilante groups, particularly Yan Sakai, were reported to have threatened voters with death if they voted for the incumbent.
“Similar incidents of intimidation were reported in all geo-political zones, and were most pronounced in the southeast zone (9.8 percent as compared with a nationwide average of 4.7 percent), with party agents involved. In Lagos, for example, voters were told to vote for the incumbent or they would be flogged in Lagbasa and Ado primary schools in Ajah LGA.”
The CDD said the outcome of the presidential and gubernatorial elections would either worsen or strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
It added that some of these determining factors include, the pronounced ethnic divisions, the electorate’s increased awareness and involvement in the process, the political influence of alternative parties, and the incorporation of technology amongst others.
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Politics
UPDATED: Ex-Edo Guber Aspirant Defects To LP, Says ‘My Sojourn In APC, PDP Full Of Pain, Deciet’
Published
13 hours agoon
June 9, 2023By
Editor
A former governorship on the platform of the PDP, Barrister Ken Imansuangbon, has described his over 20 years sojourn in the PDP and APC as full of pain and deceit.
Imansuangbon expressed this feelings on Friday while formally defecting to the Labour Party in Abuja.
Imansuangbon had on Tuesday in a letter addressed to the Edo State chairman of the party and copied his ward, Esan South East Local Government Area chairman of the party respectively, resigned his membership of the PDP.
Imansugbon who was received by the Julius Abure-led executives of the Labour Party, showered praises on the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his Vice, Ahmed Datti for championing the course of new and better Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Transfer: Cristiano Ronaldo Reacts As Messi Snubs Saudi Arabia For Inter Miami
Noting that Obi and Datti remain president and vice respectively in minds and hearts of Nigerians, the Edo-born politician said the Labour Party has come to stay and will continue to give fresh hope and leadership to Nigerians whom he noted have been pauperised by the APC and PDP.
“I want to thank the Labour party for this opportunity and for giving Nigerians fresh hope. My political history is well known. I ran to PDP little did I know that I was running from frying pan to fire, PDP and APC are birds of the same feathers, they don’t love Nigerians but their pockets.
“I must also thank the youths of Nigerians who supported the Labour Party for what I failed to see in the Obidient and Datti movement. Today, we know who the president is and he is in the minds of Nigerians. The world is watching the courts and to see what they will do. This is the party for the Nigerian people, students and the very weak.
He assured the leadership of the party that more people in the 192 wards in Edo State are ready to join the Labour Party.
Speaking, the National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure, while welcoming Imansuangbon into the party, called on those who are still sitting on the fence to join the Labour Party in the movement to rescue Nigeria.
He said, “On behalf of the national leaders of the party, I heartily welcome you to the national secretariat. We are happy you joined the party to rescue Nigeria and Edo state.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Imansuangbon Defects To Labour Party, Received By Abure-led Leadership
“In the general election our party provided the most viable alternative and our candidates are the best and that is why the people came out in their numbers to support the party. Just like what Ken said it is clear to every Nigerians that we won the election.”
He promised that the party will offer equal opportunity to all irrespective of when they join the party adding that there is no godfather in the Labour Party.
Politics
JUST IN: Imansuangbon Defects To Labour Party, Received By Abure-led Leadership
Published
16 hours agoon
June 9, 2023By
Editor
The opposition Labour Party, (LP), Friday received former Edo state Peoples Democratic Party’s, PDP, Governorship Aspirant, Barrister Ken Imansuangbon into its fold amidst jubilation.
Imansuangbon had on Tuesday in a letter addressed to the Edo state chairman of the party and copied his ward, Esan South East Local Government Area chairman of the party respectively, resigned his membership of the PDP.
The Edo politician in company of his wife, Mrs Kate Imansuangbon and large supporters, stormed the national secretariat of the Labour Party in Abuja where he was received by the national leadership of the party.
Imansugbon who was received into the party by the Julius Abure’s led executives of the Labour Party, showered praises on the party’s presidential candidate , Peter Obi and his Vice, Ahmed Datti for championing the course of new and better Nigeria, noting they remain president and vice in minds and hearts of Nigerians.
READ ALSO: Edo Has Lost One Of Its Finest – Imansuangbon Mourns Passage Of Dokpesi
He said the Labour Party has come to stay and will continue to give fresh hope and leadership to Nigerians whom he noted have been pauperised by the APC and PDP.
The philanthropist popularly referred as the ‘riceman’ in Edo State and across described his 20 years sojourn in the APC and PDP as full of pain and deceit.
“I want to thank the Labour party for this opportunity and for giving Nigerians fresh hope. My political history is well known. I ran to PDP little did I know that I was running from frying pan to fire, PDP and APC are birds of the same feathers, they don’t love Nigerians but their pockets.
“I must also thank the youths of Nigerians who supported the Labour Party for what I failed to see in the Obidient and Datti movement. Today, we know who the president is and he is in the minds of Nigerians. The world is watching the courts and to see what they will do. This is the party for the Nigerian people, students and the very weak.”
He assured the leadership of the party that more people in Edo State are ready in the 192 political wards to join the Labour Party.
The National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure, while welcoming Imansuangbon into the party, called on those who are still sitting on the fence to join the Labour Party now in the movement to rescue Nigeria.
He said, “On behalf of the national leaders of the party, I heartily welcome you to the national secretariat. We are happy you joined the party to rescue Nigeria and Edo state.
READ ALSO: Imansuangbon: Re-encting The Ali’s Education Policy
“In the general election our party provided the most viable alternative and our candidates are the best and that is why the people came out in their numbers to support the party. Just like what Ken said it is clear to every Nigerians that we won the election.”
He promised that the party will offer equal opportunity to all irrespective of when they join the party adding that there is no godfather in the Labour Party.

Four former governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde are currently meeting behind closed doors with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The former governors and the Oyo State governor that were tagged G-5 governors arrived the State House about 4:21 pm and proceeded straight to the President office.
Apart from Seyi Makinde, other former governors, who are members of the G-5 at the meeting are Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Ex-US Presidential Candidate, Renowned Religious Broadcaster Dies At 93
Wike has visited the State House about three times in one week.
Recall that the then G-5 governors as they were called, worked against the presidential candidate of their party, the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, in the February 25 presidential election.

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