As the Edo State governorship election approaches, the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), a civil society organization, has expressed concerns regarding the security situation and the potential for vote buying. The election is scheduled for Saturday.
KDI highlighted the possibility of a low voter turnout, predicting that participation may not exceed that of the 2020 election, but will likely remain above 20% of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected. This was disclosed during a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin on Friday, attended by the European Union Election Observation team, civil society organizations, and members of the media.
Oluwafemi John Adebayo, KDI’s Head of Research and Strategy, outlined several factors that could influence the election’s outcome. He stressed that the economic challenges facing Nigerians, including rising inflation, could lead to increased instances of vote buying.
“Given the high inflation rates, sums as low as N2,000 could hold significant value for some individuals,” Adebayo noted, warning that politicians might exploit economic hardships to sway voters. He emphasized that vote buying undermines democracy by distorting the true will of the people.
Adebayo urged law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC, ICPC, Nigeria Police, and NSCDC, to be vigilant in monitoring the election for signs of vote buying.
On voter turnout, Adebayo projected that while turnout might not surpass the previous election, it would likely remain above 20%, based on KDI’s data analysis. He encouraged Edo citizens to actively participate in shaping their future by voting for their preferred candidates, stating, “Election is a civic responsibility, and Edo people should be part of the process to choose their leaders.”
Regarding security, Adebayo acknowledged the presence of violence in the state, noting that non-electoral violence appeared more prevalent than electoral violence. He stressed that this could have significant implications for the election. With over 35,000 security personnel deployed for the polls, he called on them to ensure the safety of both electoral materials and voters, without intimidation.
“The role of security agencies is to secure the election process, not to intimidate the electorate,” Adebayo added.
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