Osun poll peaceful despite operational challenges – CDD

CDD-West Africa, through its Election Analysis Centre, EAC, made the assessment in a preliminary statement issued on Saturday in Abuja and signed by its Director, Dr Dauda Garuba, and the Chairman of the EAC, Prof. Victor Adetula.

The organisation said its observers monitored the election across all 30 local government areas, 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units in the state.

It explained that the assessment was based on reports submitted by its field observers, as well as reviews of credible media reports from different parts of Osun.

According to the CDD-EAC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, recorded a generally successful deployment, with officials arriving at 89.1 per cent of the polling units observed before 8:30 a.m.

The remaining 10.9 per cent of polling units monitored recorded the arrival of officials between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

The centre also noted that INEC reported that 3,556 polling units, representing 94.5 per cent of the total, had opened by 8:30 a.m.

However, it identified delays in some areas, particularly Ife Central and Aiyedire Local Government areas.

In Ife Central, the centre said a political party agent was reportedly in possession of the voters’ register before the arrival of INEC officials, a situation it said required further clarification.

The CDD-EAC also documented technical difficulties involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, including slow processing and challenges with biometric authentication.

It said such problems were reported in Irepodun, Ejigbo, Obokun, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ola Oluwa, Ede North and Ede South local government areas.

The organisation called on INEC to ensure that functional backup equipment and rapid technical assistance are available whenever BVAS devices develop problems.

The CDD-EAC also expressed concern over reports of vote buying and voter inducement at some polling locations.

Its observers reportedly witnessed vote solicitation around polling units in Ilesa East and Ola Oluwa.

The centre added that media reports had also alleged vote buying involving agents of the APC and Accord Party at a polling unit in Irewole Local Government Area.

It further disclosed that an individual was arrested by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, in Irepodun over the alleged possession of signed paper result sheets.

The CDD-EAC urged law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, including the ICPC, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the police, to investigate credible allegations of vote buying and ensure that proven offences are prosecuted.

On security, the centre said voting proceeded peacefully in many parts of the state but noted reports of violence in Ejigbo and Modakeke.

It said suspected thugs allegedly disrupted voting at Ward 4, Polling Unit 13, in Ejigbo, where the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, cast his ballot.

The organisation also called for an independent investigation into allegations that voters were tear-gassed in Modakeke and Obokun.

It urged security agencies to maintain political neutrality, exercise restraint and protect all voters irrespective of their political affiliations.

The CDD commended Osun voters, INEC officials and security personnel for their conduct during the election but cautioned against overlooking isolated incidents of violence, vote buying and technical failures.

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