Edo Decides: Yiaga Flags 8 Violence Hotspot LGAs, Urges Security to Crack Down on Vote Buying

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A civil society organisation, (CSO) Yiaga Africa, has identified eight local government areas in Edo State as hotspot for violence in Saturday’s governorship election in the state, and urged security agencies to ensure adequate deployment of personnel to these areas.
At a pre-election press conference in Benin City on Thursday, Yiaga Africa listed the LGAs as Ikpoba/Okha, Oredo, Egor, Ovia Southwest, Ovia Northeast, Esan Southeast, Etsako West and Etsako East.

The organisation asserted that the issue of vote buying must be addressed by ensuring that vote buyers and sellers were not only arrested but also prosecuted as deterrent to others.

The Chairman of the 2024 Edo Election Mission for Yiaga Africa, Dr. Aisha Abdulllahi, flanked by the Executive Director, Samson Itodo and other election stakeholders, however commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s preparedness for the election, and appealed to all parties and candidates to honour their commitments to the Peace Accord they signed.

In a prepared address with the theme: “A Barometer for Measuring Commitment to Electoral Integrity” Yiaga noted “the tense and volatile political climate for the election. The campaign period was signposted with strongarm tactics and violence. The activities of cult groups and political thugs intensified amidst employ of violence and intimidation to suppress in specific units and LGAs.

“Additionally, armed groups and political thugs may disrupt INEC’s deployment of elections. Yiaga Africa has identified eight (8) LGA’s as hotspot for violence. They include, Ikpoba Okha, Oredo, Egor, Ovia Southwest, Ovia Northeast, Esan Southeast, Etsako West and Etsako East. The volatile security environment in these LGA’s necessitates a strategic and neutral deployment of security forces”.

On voting buying, “Yiaga Africa observed multiple instances of voters inducement during the Pre-election campaign period in Edo State. Political parties and politicians continue to distribute cash, gifts and food items to entice voters.

“This practice of voters inducement undermine the integrity of the electoral process, as they can distort the free will of the electorate and compromise the democratic principle of free and fair elections. Yiaga Africa is concerned that this practice may extend to election day, turning the polling units to the epicentre of vote buying”.

The organisation further stated that “While the high rate of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) collection indicates a willingness among the electorate to participate, several factors may contribute to continued low turnout. Concerns over political violence, economic hardship, and a deep-seated lack of confidence in the electoral process could deter voters from voting”.