Samuel Bello, Abuja
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has revealed how the usage of telephone tools played a major role in vote buying during the presidential and National Assembly elections.
Chairman of CDD election analysis centre, Adele Jinadu, made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja during a press briefing.
Jinadu said the secrecy of the ballots were violated and voters cast their ballot in full public view in some polling units, where polling booths were cordoned off or cubicles provided to ensure secrecy of the vote.
“It appears that some voters were able to take their phones into the polling booth, as evidenced by pictures of thumb-printed ballot papers in circulation. Vote buying was observed in some polling units in Bayelsa, Enugu, Kano and Osun states.
“Vote buying patterns varied according to geo-political zones. In some places, people were requested to put their names down and phone number after voting so that money can be paid later. Most disturbing is the situation where party agents go around with voters’ register, hustle voters and negotiate for the votes.
“We also observed voters willingly selling their votes to the highest bidder. Other electoral malpractices reported by our observers include harassment of voters, arrest of observers by security agents, snatching of ballot boxes and stuffing of ballot papers,” Jinadu said.