Ahead of the Ondo gubernatorial election on November 16, 2024, the Justice, Development and Peace Makers Centre (JDPMC) has expressed concerns over the possibility of widespread vote buying.
The Osogbo-based election monitoring organisation noted in its pre-election assessment, a significant decline in campaign activities by major political parties compared to previous elections.
The organisation monitored rallies, street campaigns, and other voter mobilisation events from June 2024, when the campaign officially began.
In partnership with the European Union Support for Democratic Governance (EU-SDGN), it deployed campaign finance trackers and investigative journalists across all 18 local government areas of Ondo State to monitor parties campaign expenditure and use of public resources.
In a statement by the its General Coordinator, Rev. Fr. Peter Akinkunmi, JDPMC said it’s findings indicated a noticeable drop in campaign activities compared to the 2020 gubernatorial election, which had stricter COVID-19 restrictions and a shorter campaign period of 90 days. JDPMC observed a lack of public engagement and minimal voter outreach.
The organisation said its field trackers reported instances of voter inducement throughout the campaign period, including the distribution of food items, cash, and even petrol at certain filling stations.
It added that the trend of offering incentives through third parties was evident across several communities in the state, raising fears of massive vote buying on election day as political parties appear to be prioritising indirect voter engagement over conventional campaigning.
Akinkunmi called on INEC to ensure timely opening of polling stations and to be vigilant against potential acts of voter inducement.
He also appealed to security agencies to maintain professionalism and provide adequate protection for voters and electoral staff.
“Given the current trend, we anticipate a surge in vote-buying attempts. We call on all stakeholders to intensify campaigns against this practice and implement deterrent mechanisms to protect the integrity of the electoral process,” Akinkunmi stated.
JDPMC also appealed to the electorate to remain vigilant, encouraging citizens not only to vote but to safeguard their votes.
The organisation said it would release a detailed report on its findings after the election, providing a comprehensive analysis of campaign finance and voter inducement activities.
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