At Nigerian Bar Associationn (NBA) has confirmed incidents of vote buying by cash and bank transfers in several states and Abuja during the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections.
The cases were recorded in “many states including Delta, Lagos, and FCT,” according to the NBA’s interim report on the election released on Wednesday.
Nigeria entered the first phase of the general election on February 25 amid a nationwide currency shortage.
The problem that has created chaos and brought hardship to millions of citizens resulted from the aggressive withdrawal of the old version of the newly introduced N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes from circulation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
But despite the shortage of naira, the police and other security agencies, a few days before the election, arrested some politically connected people with huge cash allegedly to buy votes.
The NBA, in its interim report on the February 25 election, confirmed that vote-buying took place in different states and Abuja, although on a less brazen scale compared to the previous election.
The observers said they recorded party agents sharing money and making bank transfers in exchange for votes during the election.
“There have been reports of vote buying in many states including Delta, Lagos, and FCT. In Ward 5, Uewie LGA, Delta State, observers reported that party agents paid candidates money,” the NBA report signed by the president of the association, Yakubu Maikyau , read in part.
The NBA said accredited observers recorded cases of “party agents collecting names and giving money to voters while some officials joined voters in the polling booth to buy votes.”
“In the PU in Oshodi/Isolo, Lagos State, it was reported that party agents transferred money to voters from telephones,” the NBA report stated. “Other observers reported that bank transfers were made by party agents to voters in exchange for votes.”
The report added that officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) “intercepted party agents who were showing money to voters” at the Apo Town Hall Polling Unit in AMAC, Abuja.
“Also at PU 085 LEA Primary School, Mbape, Abuja, arrests were made by the EFCC of some persons who wrote down their names and account details intended to buy votes,” the report added.
The report explained that “only 14 percent of observer reports indicated incidents of vote buying.”
Noting the significant reduction in the threat, the report said: “However, cases of vote buying are not as numerous or brazen as in previous elections.”
The NBA 2023 Election Situation Room received more than 2,250 reports from more than 1,000 NBA Election Observers, during the election, according to the association’s interim report.
The report covers all the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT. The report was received through the NBA’s election watcher app, social media handles, and toll-free channels, the report said.
Another challenge
The NBA identified other major challenges marring the February 25 election including delays in the arrival of INEC officials and ballot materials at polling stations.
Another, according to the lawyer’s body, damaged the Bimodal Verification and Accreditation System (BVAS) engine. “This has led to delays in voter accreditation,” the report said.
He also said that only few or non-transmission of results from the polling unit to the INEC results portal, one of the main problems that defeated presidential candidates who used capital to challenge the results of the polls.
Also read: Bank operators urge merchants and traders to adopt cashless policy amid naira shortage
The report also identified insecurity in some polling units including violent attacks on voters and officials, intimidation of voters, looting and destruction of voting materials as part of the major challenges during the election.
“Reports from Oshodi/Isolo LG PU recorded a video of party agents threatening voters who will not vote for the party to leave the PU. Also, in Education Officer PU, Ward 004, Idah LGA of Kogi State, there were reports of intimidation of officials and voters by party agents ,” the NBA report said.
In addition, there are also limited access facilities for people with disabilities.
It is recommended that all issues should be addressed before the next phase of elections – the governorship and state House of Assembly elections scheduled to be held in the 36 states of the federation on Saturday, March 11.
Voter satisfaction
The NBA also said that the assessment of the report received in the Situation Room from observers across the country assessed that only 27.1 percent, about a quarter of voters, were very impressed with the conduct of the ballots.
He said the majority of voters (64.6 per cent) were “somewhat satisfied” while only 8.2 per cent had a “poor or very poor turnout”.
Call for probes, and other recommendations
Among the recommendations, the NBA asked INEC to identify problems from the February 25 election, with the aim of preventing the likes of the March 11 governorship election and the State Council election.
It also called INEC to “ensure that all the bugs or glitches in the BVAs machines and other electoral technology are fixed and good” to reduce the technical problems experienced in the 25 February elections.
It also asked the electoral body to exclude all INEC staff members, including collectives and returning officers, with cases of misconduct in the February 25 election from the March 11 poll.
In addition to being excluded from the next election, the NBA added, the offending staff member should be subject to “disciplinary action including criminal prosecution, if appropriate.”
In addition, he asked INEC to “expeditiously investigate all petitions received regarding the election and ensure effective and transparent redress.”
The agency asked INEC to ensure that election materials are delivered on time to the Polling Unit “so that the accreditation process will start on time”.
It also asked the Inspector General of Police to quickly “approve a review of the conduct of officials during the Presidential and National Assembly elections with the aim of identifying and disciplining officials found to be in violation of the Election and Police Law. Take action.”
All those arrested during the election for various offenses should be promptly prosecuted by the relevant authorities, the NBA added.
DOWNLOAD NBA INTERIM REPORT
ELECTION INTERIM REPORT
Support the integrity and credibility of PREMIUM TIMES journalism
Good journalism costs a lot of money. But only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, responsible democracy, and transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider making a modest contribution to this noble effort.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help keep journalism relevant and ensure it remains free and available to all.
contribute
AD TEXT: Call Willie – +2348098788999
