Democracy and Development (CDD), Idayat Hassan reacts to the
conduct of the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo
State.
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) says
despite the peaceful conduct of the Edo State governorship
election, some cases of violence were recorded in five local
government areas.
CDD Director, Idayat Hassan, disclosed this on Saturday during
an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, a special
programme designed for the September 19 governorship poll.
She also raised concerns over electoral malpractices, notably
vote-buying which she said marred the electoral process in the
state.
According to her, attempts were made to shape the perception of
people on the true situation of things.
“We have just seen pockets of violence in five local government
areas, nothing to write home about.
“There were records of electoral offences. Important also is the
rampant vote-buying that marred these elections. Lastly is an
attempt to actually perception such that what was really happening
on the ground did not really match the reality on social media,”
she said.
READ ALSO: Edo Decides: Mixed Reactions As
Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu Vote
The electoral observer also reacted to the way and manner the
electorates conducted themselves amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
She argued that: “the issue of the implementation of INEC policy
on COVID-19 rema ins a challenge that can lead to a spike.”
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This comes as some voters were seen in some polling units not
adhering to instructions stipulated by the Presidential Task Force
on COVID-19 and the relevant health authorities.
While some results were being collated, many of the crowed
voters were not maintaining the physical distancing directives
neither did they were their nose masks in avoid further spread of
the coronavirus disease.
Meanwhile, mixed reactions trailed the electoral exercise in
Edo, with various reports of electoral gadgets malfunctioning,
claims of vote-buying, and pockets of palpable chaos nipped in the
bud.
In the early hours of today, there was mild tension at Emokpae
Model Primary School in Oredo Local Government Area of the state,
where Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is one of the candidates in the
poll, went to cast his vote.
The fracas resulted from a misunderstanding between an agent of
a political party and a supposed election observer. This occurred
while some officials of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) were setting up for the election.
The party agent is said to have mistaken the observer for
another party agent and challenged him for sitting on a seat meant
for the electoral officials. As a result, both men engaged in an
altercation as other electorates at the venue watched.
The situation was however brought under control following the
intervention of the security agencies on the ground.
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/09/20/edo-election-votes-buying-marred-polls-cdd-alleges/