#OndoDecides2024: “APC Agents Offered N20,000 for Votes, Normalizing Vote Buying in Nigeria” – Yiaga Africa

Yiaga Africa, a prominent election monitoring group, has raised serious concerns over the growing prevalence of vote buying in Nigeria’s electoral processes, citing specific incidents during the Ondo State governorship election held on Saturday, November 16. The group reported multiple cases of voter inducement, including APC agents offering N20,000 to secure votes in several polling units.

Paul James, Yiaga Africa’s election program officer, speaking during an interview with Arise TV, described the situation as increasingly alarming. “Vote buying is becoming a permanent feature of our elections. It’s a significant contributor to electoral corruption and political instability in Nigeria,” James said, emphasizing that such practices undermine the integrity of elections and erode public trust in democratic processes.

Yiaga Africa’s observers documented incidents where APC party agents were seen offering cash inducements to voters at polling units in Odulufe, Omoke, Odosika, and Ogubgobe, located in Ile-Oluji II Ward of Ile-Oluji Local Government Area (LGA). The agents allegedly offered N20,000 to voters in exchange for their support. Despite the blatant nature of the vote buying, Yiaga Africa reported that security personnel present at these polling units did not intervene to stop the illicit activity.

In addition to the vote-buying incidents, Yiaga Africa also reported instances where its observers were obstructed from monitoring the election process. At the Igbelowowa Methodist Primary School polling unit in Idanre LGA, an observer was denied access by the presiding officer and security personnel. The officials claimed they had not received instructions to allow observers, a violation of the principles of transparency and accountability in elections.

Frustrated voters in Akure South LGA also disrupted voting at the Leo Hospital polling unit in Owode/Imuagun Ward due to malfunctioning Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines. According to Yiaga Africa’s report, the situation escalated until security operatives arrived and restored order, allowing voting to continue.

Yiaga Africa also highlighted the blurred lines between campaign activities and vote buying in the lead-up to the election. Politicians had been seen distributing items such as food and fertilizers to sway voters. James noted that this blurred distinction made it difficult to differentiate between legitimate campaign strategies and attempts to manipulate the electorate. “At some point in October, we observed politicians distributing fertilizers to farmers. It’s challenging to draw the line between palliatives and vote buying,” he explained.

James also pointed to the late start of political campaigns as a potential strategy to stockpile resources for vote buying on election day. “Most campaigns didn’t start until the middle of October. We were concerned that this delay was a tactic to save up resources for vote buying on election day,” he added.

Yiaga Africa has called on security agencies and anti-corruption bodies to take immediate and decisive action against those involved in vote buying and other electoral malpractices. The group urged law enforcement to act proactively, without waiting for instructions from INEC, to prevent further corruption in the electoral process.

“We don’t want them to territorialize the conversation. When these things happen in public, security officers often say they can’t act until directed by INEC. This approach must change,” James stated.

The organization also stressed the need for greater accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s elections, warning that the growing normalization of vote buying poses a serious threat to the country’s democratic system and political stability.