YIAGA Africa, a civil society organisation monitoring Saturday’s Edo State governorship election, has said there were vote buying in different polling units.
It said there was vote buying in Ikpoba/Okha, Igueben, Esan West, Akoko Edo, Owan West, and Uhunmodi local government areas.
According to the CSO, agents of the All Progressives Congress (APCand the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were seen bribing voters with N10,000 cash at the Igueben – Idumoka Primary School polling unit (12-10-03-004), Ward 1 in Igueben Local Government Area (LGA).
“Party agents for All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were also seen handing out cash gifts (N10,000) in Enikaro – Enikaro Primary School, IX Polling Unit (12-11-07-009) in Ugbekun ward, Ikpoba/Okha LGA,” Yiaga Africa said It said voters halted the accreditation and voting process in the Ikpoba Army Children XI polling unit in Iwogban/Uteh Ward, Ikpoba/Okha LGA because INEC officials arrived without the official stamp.
It said at Ebua Market Square in Uhunwode LGA, there was an altercation between APC and PDP supporters over alleged bribery which led to the suspension of voting and the destruction of the voting cubicle.
“Political thugs also disrupted voting at Anyaran Araromi Primary School in Akoko Edo LGA,” the group stated.
By 1:40 p.m., the Yiaga Africa said, its data centre had received 16 verified critical incident reports primarily concerning the late opening of polls.
Yiaga Africa also said it received reports of four polling units that failed to open. This incident was reported in two polling units in Egor, 1 in Esan South East, and 1 in Etsako West.
