The Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa (CDD-West Africa), through its Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), has raised concerns about the integrity of the September 21, 2024 Edo State Governorship election.
In its statement, CDD-EAC highlighted issues such as vote buying, logistical delays by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the spread of disinformation, all of which pose serious challenges to the credibility of the election process.
According to the report, the election, which was contested across 18 Local Government Areas, saw widespread incidents of vote buying, with political party agents from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) offering between ₦5,000 and ₦10,000 to voters in exchange for their support. These illegal activities were particularly observed in polling units in Esan Central, Esan North-East, and Oredo Local Government Areas, with financial incentives driving up voter turnout.
While the election was mostly peaceful, CDD observers reported significant delays in the commencement of voting. INEC officials arrived late at 42% of polling stations observed, with some locations, such as Emotan College, still not operational by 9:45 a.m. This, coupled with heavy rains and overcrowded polling units, affected voter enthusiasm and turnout in certain areas. Observers noted that 65% of the polling units they monitored had between 500 and 1,000 registered voters, leading to logistical challenges for election officials.
Disinformation and misinformation were also rampant, with CDD’s Countering Disinformation War Room tracking a total of 35 false claims circulating on Election Day. These included misleading narratives about candidate withdrawals and fabricated reports of electoral violence, with all major political candidates targeted. The Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, was falsely claimed to have withdrawn from the race in favor of the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, a rumor swiftly debunked by CDD fact-checkers.
In response to these issues, the CDD-EAC has called for strengthened fact-checking initiatives and increased voter education to help counter false narratives and ensure a more informed electorate in future elections. Despite these challenges, the group commended the largely peaceful conduct of the election and urged all political stakeholders to maintain peace as the collation of results continues.
The CDD-EAC will provide further updates on the election’s progress as the process moves towards completion.
For further inquiries, contact:
Mr. Armsfree Ajanaku, Media Engagement, Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC)
(+234 8086985104 | aajanaku@cddwestafrica.org)
Buying, INEC Delays, and Disinformation Threaten Edo Governorship Election Integrity, CDD Reports
The Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa (CDD-West Africa), through its Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), has raised concerns about the integrity of the September 21, 2024 Edo State Governorship election. In its preliminary statement, CDD-EAC highlighted issues such as vote buying, logistical delays by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the spread of disinformation, all of which pose serious challenges to the credibility of the election process.
According to the report, the election, which was contested across 18 Local Government Areas, saw widespread incidents of vote buying, with political party agents from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) offering between ₦5,000 and ₦10,000 to voters in exchange for their support. These illegal activities were particularly observed in polling units in Esan Central, Esan North-East, and Oredo Local Government Areas, with financial incentives driving up voter turnout.
While the election was mostly peaceful, CDD observers reported significant delays in the commencement of voting. INEC officials arrived late at 42% of polling stations observed, with some locations, such as Emotan College, still not operational by 9:45 a.m. This, coupled with heavy rains and overcrowded polling units, affected voter enthusiasm and turnout in certain areas. Observers noted that 65% of the polling units they monitored had between 500 and 1,000 registered voters, leading to logistical challenges for election officials.
Disinformation and misinformation were also rampant, with CDD’s Countering Disinformation War Room tracking a total of 35 false claims circulating on Election Day. These included misleading narratives about candidate withdrawals and fabricated reports of electoral violence, with all major political candidates targeted. The Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, was falsely claimed to have withdrawn from the race in favor of the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, a rumor swiftly debunked by CDD fact-checkers.
In response to these issues, the CDD-EAC has called for strengthened fact-checking initiatives and increased voter education to help counter false narratives and ensure a more informed electorate in future elections. Despite these challenges, the group commended the largely peaceful conduct of the election and urged all political stakeholders to maintain peace as the collation of results continues.
The CDD-EAC will provide further updates on the election’s progress as the process moves towards completion.
