The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH) said it has recorded 323 cases of electoral offences and irregularities and 38 security incidents in the ongoing Osun State governorship election.
This was disclosed at the preliminary election day statement by Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), International Press Centre (IPC), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre (TKC) and Yiaga Africa.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the observers, Lanre Arogundade, the executive director, IPC said the incidents were documented by the Hub’s observers across 726 polling units monitored as of noon on Saturday.
The observers said, electoral offences and irregularities recorded included 103 cases of vote trading, 12 cases of multiple voting, 28 cases of inducement of polling and security officials, 38 cases of campaigning at polling units and 14 cases of voter impersonation.
Others were seven cases of misconduct by election officials, 31 cases of obstruction of voters and 85 cases involving exposure of ballot papers.
On election security, he said, ‘As at 12 noon, the Hub’s observers have recorded 38 security incidents with 25 reported cases of thuggery, 12 attacks on electoral officials and 9 cases of voter intimidation by security personnel.
‘Furthermore, of the 726 polling units observed, there were reported 323 cases of electoral offences and irregularities including vote trading (103), multiple voting (12), inducement of polling and security officials (28), campaigning at PUs (38), voter impersonation (14), misconduct by election officials (7), obstruction of voters (31) and exposure of ballot papers (85).’
He added that, ‘The election environment has been generally conducive for journalists and observers, with no major incident reported as at the time of this report relating to impeded access to polling units.
‘The hub’s fact checkers were able to detect and fact-check about eleven false claims relating to alleged payment of INEC officials, arrests by the police, underage voting, among others, as at the time of this report. The outcomes were all amplified, but other claims relating to shooting and disruption of voting are being fact-checked.’