Voter’s inducement permeates pre-election activities in Osun – YIAGA Africa

A group of election observers drawn from the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA) through its Watching The Vote (WTV) project has concluded its pre-election observations and declared that voter inducement remains prevalent in Osun in the pre-election activities.

These were the findings of the YIAGA Africa pre-election observations as contained in its reports signed by the Project Director, Cynthia Mbamalu and Pre-Election Observation Manager, Safiya Bichi and presented in Osogbo, Osun State capital.

According to the report, summary of findings for the pre-election period indicated the prevalence of voter inducement through the distribution of money and gift items.

YIAGA Africa said “the voter inducement  was either directly witnessed or heard of by 52% of the WTV Long Term Observers (LTOs) reporting from 16 of the 30 areas which include: Boluwaduro, Boripe, Ifedayo, Irepodun, Ila, Ifelodun, Odo-Otin, Olorunda, Osogbo, Ilesha West, Ilesha East, Ayedire, Ife, Ejigbo, Irewole and Iwo LGAs of Osun state.”

YIAGA Africa called the attention of all election stakeholders to the growing trend of voter inducement, saying that the trend remains worrisome.

“Voter inducement through the distribution of money and gift items was still visible in the state and as stakeholder there is need for more voter’s education against this trend. All electoral actors should intensify campaign activities to discourage the act of voter’s bribery in the coming elections as indicators abound.”

“Political parties’ campaigns especially, campaigns rallies are increasingly dominating the political space in the state. The dominant political parties in the state based on our observation including the Action Democratic Party (ADP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have extended their campaign rallies to more LGAs as compared to the WTV first observation period.”

“The report also shows that electoral preparatory activities are ongoing in the state with over half (91%) of WTV LTOs reported witnessing election preparatory activities undertaken by INEC in the state. The WTV LTOs were charged with the responsibility of observing INEC’s preparatory activities, including the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

“Youth, Women and PWD groups are actively engaging the political space through canvassing for votes for political parties and candidates in Boripe, Ifedayo, Ifelodun, Odo-Otin, Orolu, Osogbo, Atakumosa West, Ilesha West, Ilesha East, Ede South, Irewole, Isokan and Iwo LGAs, Boluwaduro, Olorunda, Atakumosa East, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Oriade, and Ede South.”