#eDODECIDEs: Yiaga Africa says voting process peaceful but collations failed integrity test at night
*As collations centres were marred with disruptions, intimidations *Says security agents seen preventing party agents, observers, journalists from entering collations centres at LGAs, INEC headquarters
By KEMI KASUMU
Notable Civil Society Organisation which observed Edo State election at over 300 polling units on Saturday September 21, 2024, Yiaga Africa, has given its word on the process.
It said whereas the election process was peaceful as electorate came all out massively to vote for candidates of their choice, same coukd not be said of the collations as the process at various local governments’ collation centres were marked with disruptions and intimidation.
Yiafa Africa expressed concerns that what happened Saturday night should thatbtge process failed integrity test as security agents and political actors were seen practically preventing party agents from and journalists from entering the collations collations.
These concerns were put forward by Founder of Yiaga Africa, Mr. Samsung Itodo, while speaking on the outcome of the Edo election in an ARISE NEWS Television interview with Dr. Reuben Abaiti, monitored by The DEFENDER on Sunday September 22.
Asked, having commented that the election process was peace before it failed integrity test across collation centres at night, whether he would give a pass to security agents for the peaceful conduct or the people for conducting themselves in tge peaceful manner, Mr. Itodo said tge process was still ongoing.
On Saturday September 21, Yiaga Africa had raised the alarm over alleged disruptions in the collation of results for Oredo and Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Areas.
The group claimed observers and INEC officials were teargassed.
In a statement on its X page early Sunday morning, Yiaga Africa said, “Reports from our LGA collation centre observers indicate disruptions in the collation process for Oredo and Ikpoba/Okha. Observers and INEC officials are being teargassed in Ikpoba/Okha.”
It emphasised that collating LGA results at the state headquarters violates established procedure for results collation.
They urged INEC to stand firm against intimidation and interference.
“We want to emphasise that collating LGA results at the state headquarters violates the established procedure for results collation. We urge @inecnigeria to stand firm against intimidation and interference. Electoral law permits accredited observers, media, and party agents to monitor results collation at all levels. Failure to address these issues risks undermining the legitimacy of what has been a peaceful process since its commencement.”
Earlier, Yiaga Africa reported incidents of vote buying and polling unit disruption during Saturday’s governorship election.
The organisation’s agents observed vote buying in several local government areas, including Ikpoba/Okha, Igueben, Esan West, Akoko Edo, Owan West, and Uhunmode.
In Igueben, APC and PDP party agents were reportedly seen bribing voters with N10,000 cash at the Igueben-Idumoka Primary School polling unit.
Similar incidents were reported in Ikpoba/Okha, where party agents handed out N10,000 cash to voters at the Enikaro-Enikaro Primary School polling unit.
Yiaga also reported disruptions at polling units in Ikpoba/Okha and Akoko Edo due to INEC officials’ lack of official stamps and alleged bribery.
At Ebua Market Square in Uhunwode LGA, an altercation between APC and PDP supporters over alleged bribery led to the suspension of voting and destruction of the voting cubicle.
The Edo State governorship election features 17 candidates on the ballot, including Olumide Akpata (Labour Party), Asue Ighodalo (PDP), and Monday Okpebholo (APC).
With 2,629,025 registered voters, the outcome of this election will determine who replaces Mr Obaseki when his tenure expires in November.
