Edo Decides: KDI raises alarm over ‘vote’ buying, wants security agents to rise up to the task

In less than twenty-four hours to the governorship election, a civil society organisation, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), has called on security agents to go hard on those would be involve on vote buying.

KDI who also predicted there could be a low turnout in Edo 2014 election, saying the turnout may not surpass that of 2020 election but may not be less than 20 per cent of PVC collected so far.

According to Mr Olufwafemi John, Head, Research and Strategy, KDI in Benin city during during Friday stakeholders’ meeting attended by the European Union Election Observation team, civil society organisations, and the media ahead of the governorship election said a lot of factors may likely determine the outcome of the election.

Mr John who said Nigerians are facing a lot of economic challenges rising from inflation, amongst others, expressed worries that this may have an impact on the outcome of tomorrow’s election.

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He noted that politicians may use this instrument of hardship to lure the people through vote buying, which according to him may subvert the will of the people.

As you can see, inflation is high in the country, so what this means is that N2,000 will mean a lot to some people. Politicians may use this as an instrument. Vote buying does not make an election to reflect the will of the people. It subverts the will of the people.”

“So, one thing we are saying is that, in tomorrow’s election, law enforcement agencies – the EFCC, ICPC, the Nigeria Police, the NSCDC should put an eye to this regard,” he stressed.

On the likely turn out of voter, Adebayo said: “We may not have a turnout that surpasses the last election in the state. But we are also thinking from our data and some of the analysis we have done, it won’t be lower than 20 per cent.

“But in all, we are saying the Edo people should come out and vote for the candidate of their choice. Election is a civil affair, so they should be part of those that will decide who will lead them. This is about their future.”

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On security situation in the state, the KDI head of research said: “There have been issues of violence apparently in the state. The environment is tense. But ironically, non-electoral violence is even more than electoral violence, and it does have implications on the election.”

He appealed to the over thirty-five thousand security personnel deployed to the state for the election to play by the rule by ensuring that election materials and electorate are secured not intimidated

“The presence of security agencies is to help to secure the election and not to intimidate the voter,” he added.

While reminiscing on past elections in the country, executive director, Mr Bukola Idowu also gave a clearer picture of what is expected of the electorates, security and candidates.