The Nigerian Bar Affiliation Election Working Group has launched its report on the Edo State governorship elections held on September 21, 2024,. The NBA highlighted logistical delays, low voter turnout, and cases of tried vote shopping for.
Regardless of these challenges, the group praised the general conduct of voters and safety personnel, describing the election course of as typically peaceable.
Accredited by the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee to watch the elections, the NBA deployed observers to varied polling items throughout Edo State.
These included representatives from the 5 NBA branches within the state—Benin, Auchi, Igarra, Uromi, and Ekpoma to make sure complete protection.
The Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee, on Sunday, declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress because the winner of the election.
In line with the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Faruq Kuta, Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Occasion, Asue Ighodalo, who scored 247, 274 votes.
He additionally acknowledged that the candidate of the Labour Occasion, Olumide Akpata, got here a distant third with 22,763 votes.
The NBA-EWG’s main aims have been to evaluate the compliance of all stakeholders with election legal guidelines and to guage the freeness and equity of the method
In its report, made accessible on Tuesday, the group famous delays within the deployment of election supplies and personnel, notably in areas round Benin Metropolis.
The staff lead by Mrs Bolatumi Animashaun, commented on the delays, saying, “The late arrival of supplies in some polling items considerably hindered the sleek graduation of voting
“In areas like Etsako West and Esan North East, voting started on time, however somewhere else like Egor Ward I, there have been no supplies or INEC officers in any respect.
Regardless of these logistical points, the NBA-EWG noticed that the election remained largely peaceable, with ample safety offered by varied businesses, together with the Nigeria Police Pressure and the Nigerian Military.
Nonetheless, one notable incident occurred at Aunty Maria Nursery & Major Faculty in Egor LGA, the place gunshots have been fired after an altercation involving an APC politician,”Animashaun famous.
The NBA-EWG additionally reported that safety forces have been concerned within the state of affairs however maintained total order all through the method.
Voter turnout was a major concern, with the NBA-EWG observing that regardless of Edo State having over 2.6 million registered voters, participation on the polls was low.
“In some polling items, fewer than 10% of registered voters have been accredited to vote,” she stated.
“For instance, in Ward 4, Aduwawa LGA, solely 94 out of 1,100 registered voters participated. Equally low turnout was noticed throughout different native authorities areas.”
Moreover, the group additionally recommended the resilience of some voters, notably middle-aged people and bodily challenged individuals, who braved heavy rains to forged their ballots.
It additionally noticed that whereas 17 political events have been registered for the election, solely three—APC, PDP, and Labour Occasion—had a visual presence at most polling items.
On the problem of vote shopping for, the NBA-EWG reported a number of cases the place political get together brokers tried to affect voters with financial incentives.
“In Ugbeku Native Authorities, observers witnessed women and men participating voters in discreet discussions, whereas a middle-aged man compiled a listing of voters, elevating suspicions of vote shopping for.
Regardless of these issues, the NBA-EWG lauded the professionalism of INEC officers and the performance of the Biometric Voter Accreditation System in most polling items.
“We’re inspired by the conduct of election officers, who carried out their duties with out interference,” Animashaun stated.
In its suggestions, the NBA-EWG known as for enhancements within the well timed distribution of election supplies and intensified voter training campaigns to revive public belief within the electoral course of.
The NBA Common Secretary, Dr Mobolaji Ojibara, urged stricter measures to curb the affect of cash in elections.
“Curbing the position of cash is essential to making sure the integrity of our elections,” she stated.