An election monitoring group, Yiaga Africa has condemned in a really robust phrases, the noticed incidents of vote-buying within the simply concluded Ondo State governorship election, which characterised the election as a serious risk to the credibility of the electoral course of.
In keeping with the Yiaga Africa, this observe promotes electoral corruption, erodes high quality in election competitors and undermines the legitimacy of electoral victory.
Ezenwa Nwagwu, Chair for the 2024 Ondo Election Mission, Yiaga Africa, whereas addressing journalists on Sunday in Akure, nonetheless, referred to as on political events to chorus from the tradition of commercialization of elections in Nigeria and make investments slightly in practices that improve belief within the elections.
Yiaga Africa mentioned; “election offenders arrested throughout the Ondo election ought to be handed over to the police for due prosecution. As well as, safety companies ought to be extra proactive in arresting and prosecuting perpetrators of voter inducement and vote shopping for.
“Political events and candidates ought to encourage issue-based participation in elections and put money into constructing political events that uphold democratic ideas and promote electoral integrity.
“Political events ought to decide to gender-inclusive management recruitment by making certain that girls are elected into get together management positions and elected in get together primaries in subsequent elections.
“Stakeholders corresponding to INEC, NOA and CSOs ought to put money into political and voter training to construct residents consciousness on the significance of democracy and the worth of the vote.”
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Talking on the deployment and professionalism of polling officers and safety throughout the election, Yiaga Africa mentioned the safety personnel that have been current in all polling models noticed have been unprofessional and partisan in 7 per cent of polling models.
Nwagwu, Chair for the 2024 Ondo Election Mission, Yiaga Africa, nonetheless, urged governor Fortunate Aiyedatiwa and all APC supporters to be magnanimous of their victory and referred to as on all candidates, political events and Nigerians to show political maturity and uphold peace.
“Yiaga Africa commends INEC on the well timed opening of polls with important supplies current and the well timed announcement of outcomes. Yiaga Africa commends the folks of Ondo State for his or her resilience and dedication to conducting a non-violent election,” Nwagwu mentioned.