Foreign Observer Group Condemns ‘Unbelievable Vote-Buying’ Incidences During Anambra Guber Election

By Uche Eke

Panama African Women Projects, one of the foreign acredited observer groups for the Anambra governorship election, says the November 8th exercise recorded an unbelievable vote buying across several polling units.

At a news briefing in Awka, the group said the transaction that took place during the election was likened to buying and selling activities usually experienced at Nkwor Nnewi Market.

The Director Strategy and Advocacy of the body, Bontle Matjila who read out the report noted that they had 25 short term observers that gathered first hand reports from the twenty one local government areas of the state.

The group, however, commended the arrival of materials to many polling units between 8 to 9. 30 in the morning while the entire environment remained calm.

Matjila observed that some political parties did not engage in campaign activities including mounting of billboards , which shows that they were not ready for the contest.

Pan Africa Women Projects said reports from their field observers showed that some polling units at the commencement of the election did not have some sensitive materials to display to the party agents like result sheets.

It therefore noted that based on the observation and more areas of concern, the election was to be rated not being transparent by international best practices.

The Head of Mission, Pan African Women Projects, Doctor Eno Udensi stated that the group had both visuals and pictorial recordings obtained with spy devices showing the high level of vote buying that took place during the election.

She noted that all the detailed report will be submitted with footages to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC soon, while commending the Inspector General of Police and all security agencies for the good conduct of their men at the election but recommended reduction in the number of personnel deployed during elections since INEC is now conducting electronic exercise.

The Foreign Observer group thanked INEC for the opportunity given them to promote a sustainable and credible democracy in Nigeria.