The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) Election Analysis Centre (EAC) has said that last Saturday’s off-cycle governorship election in Edo State was marred by widespread over-voting and low voter turnout among other critical incidences.
This is contained in the post-election statement of the election presented on Monday in Abuja and signed by Prof. Adele Jinadu, the Chair, CDD-EAC.
Daily Trust reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Saturday night declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election.
The returning officer, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, announced that the APC candidate secured 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had 247,274 votes and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) with 22,763 votes.
Speaking on INEC Result Viewing Portal (iReV) performance, Prof. Jinadu said the CDD-EAC observed upload of blurry results in Ozolua Primary School II, Abumwenre, Okokhua ward/RA 09, Ovia North-East LGA; while results from various polling units (PUs) in Etsako East; Weppa Registration Area, PU at Osholo primary school, Osholo were observed as over-voting.
“INEC also uploaded a result where the votes recorded for the APC were higher than the accredited number of voters, with 213 accredited voters, but 352 votes for APC and 52 PDP in Weppa registration Area, Etsako East Local Government.
“Similar cases were also recorded in Okpella IV, Iddo Sabo registration area, where despite 250 voters being accredited, 263 were reported to have voted for APC and 97 for PDP; in Okpella IV ward 8, and the PU at open Space by Elite Secondary School, where despite the form recording 251 accredited voters, the APC polled 344 voters and the PDP recorded 41.
“Also in Okpella IV registration area, polling unit at Imioko qtr / Shade Imioshoga III, with 240 accredited voters, yet the APC had 488 votes accrued, PDP 11 in Shade Imioshoga I; in Okpella IV registration area, where the total number of accredited voters was 275, but the APC was recorded to have 377, PDP 53. We note that the inconsistency of the reporting means we are unsure if it was over voting, poor data input or a combination of other factors,” Jinadu said.
Speaking on voter behaviour and voter turnout, he said that despite the results being announced and winner declared, there were some concerning details behind the numbers that have been declared.
He said, “For example, voter turnout appears to be concerningly low, despite a high collection of PVCs. In Edo Central, despite 87% of PVCs collected, turnout is a paltry 25%. A similar trend obtains in Edo North, where despite 94% of PVCs collected, turnout is 33%.
“Even worse in Edo South despite 82% of PVCs collected, turnout was 17%. CDD believes that these regrettable realities of poor voter turnout may not be unconnected to the huge deployment of uniformed personnel, high militarisation, and tough-talking police high command.”
He also expressed concern that while accredited voter percentages ranged from 23% to 37% across most LGAs matched, Igueben recorded significant discrepancy with 64.1% accredited voters but only 28% voter turnout.
“This discrepancy warrants investigation into potential barriers that prevented accredited voters from casting their ballots,” Jinadu said.
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