Ondo Election: Non-Profit Civic Hub Bemoans Votebuying, Low Compliance With COVID-19 Protocol

A non-profit civic hub, Yiaga Africa, has said that the Ondo election was marred with vote-buying and inadequate compliance with COVID-19 protocol.

The Co-chair, Yiaga Africa 2020 Ondo Election Observation Mission, Dr Aisha Abdullahi, stated this on Saturday at a press conference on the situational report on the election.

Abdulahi said it received reports of vote-buying from Akure South, Ose, Ondo West, Ilaje and Akure North with the secrecy of the ballot being compromised.

She said, “Despite attempts by polling officials to prevent voters and party agents from showing how ballot papers were marked, these electoral offences occurred in the presence of security personnel who made no attempt in some cases to reprimand the culprits.”

She also decried the poor observation of social distancing across all the polling units observed.

Abdulahi, however, noted that the commencement of polls, compliance with INEC COVID-19 protocol on the two-tier queuing system in 88 per cent of polling units, the presence of infrared thermometer and disinfectant/sanitisers in 74 per cent of polling units were observed.

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She said, in assessing the electoral process’ responsiveness to the needs of persons with disabilities, it tracked the presence of disability-sensitive election materials with the presence of the Braille ballot guide in 59 per cent of polling units.

Abdulahi also observed magnifying glasses in 27 per cent of polling units, forms EC 40H (PWD Voter information and statistics) in 93 per cent of polling units and the PWD posters Form EC 30E in 90 per cent of polling units.