The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), a leading advocate for electoral transparency and security, has unveiled its comprehensive report on the recently concluded Ondo State governorship election.
The report highlights significant progress in logistics and transparency but underscores lingering challenges like vote-buying and procedural lapses.
Key Highlights from the Report
1. Election Day Performance
- Logistics and Operations: Voting commenced on time in over 90% of polling units, demonstrating improved planning by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) operated effectively, though minor glitches with biometric captures for older voters were noted.
- Vote-Buying: Rampant vote-buying across senatorial districts marred the election’s credibility. Transactions reportedly ranged from ₦5,000 to ₦10,000, with political agents actively involved.
2. Transparency
- Results Upload: INEC achieved a 97% upload rate of polling unit results on the IReV portal by 9:30 PM on election day, showcasing significant progress in real-time result dissemination.
- Overvoting Concerns: Despite high transparency, instances of overvoting and discrepancies in voter registration figures were observed, raising procedural questions.
3. Security and Violence
- While the election was largely peaceful, 26 verified incidents of violence were recorded, including ballot box snatching. Party agents were implicated in over half of these cases.
4. Inclusivity
- Observers noted inconsistencies in enforcing the “No PVC, No Voting” policy, with reports of violations of ballot secrecy and undue voter influence by party agents.
5. Stakeholder Conduct
- Polling Officials: While polling officials demonstrated professionalism, some bypassed BVAS verification protocols, undermining the election’s integrity.
- Law Enforcement: The DSS made arrests for vote-buying, but follow-up on prosecutions remains limited.
KDI’s Conclusion
Bukola Idowu, Team Lead at KDI, described the election as “partially free and fair”, highlighting logistical improvements but noting that systemic issues like vote-buying continue to hinder Nigeria’s democratic progress.
Recommendations for Future Elections
- Stronger Deterrents: Enforce stricter penalties for vote-buying and other electoral misconduct.
- BVAS Optimization: Ensure better BVAS functionality to enhance inclusivity, particularly for older and rural voters.
- Capacity Building: Conduct comprehensive training for polling officials and rigorous system testing before elections.
- Prosecution of Electoral Offenders: Follow through on arrests with transparent trials to deter future violations.
Moving Forward
The KDI report serves as a call to action for electoral reform, aiming to address systemic challenges and align Nigeria’s electoral processes with international standards. With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, stakeholders are urged to act swiftly to foster greater electoral integrity
By: Julian Adetinuyo
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