The Ondo State gubernatorial election has sparked controversy following reports of alleged vote-buying by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The allegations were raised during the electoral process in Kiribo, Ese-Odo Local Government Area, and have fueled widespread criticism of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its handling of the election.
Agboola Ajayi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and former deputy governor of Ondo State, expressed grave concerns about the integrity of the election. After casting his vote at Unit 4, Ward 2 Idumado in Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA, Mr. Ajayi described the process as deeply flawed. He noted delays in the functionality of the BVAS machine, which took over ten minutes to register his vote. According to him, this was just one of many signs of a compromised system.
Mr. Ajayi did not mince words in his criticism of INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barr. Oluwatoyin Babalola, alleging that her actions demonstrated bias and failure to uphold impartiality. He lamented, “The system is compromised, and we have received numerous reports from the public about vote buying and BVAS malfunctions. This is a deeply shameful exercise.”
The PDP candidate further called for the resignation of INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, accusing him of failing to ensure a credible election. “If the INEC Chairman cannot fulfill his responsibilities, he should simply step down. Nigerians deserve a transparent and fair electoral process,” he stated.
The accusations of vote-buying have raised questions about the conduct of APC members in the ongoing election. Observers in various polling units reportedly witnessed financial inducements being offered to voters, an act that undermines the integrity of the democratic process. These incidents, coupled with allegations of electoral equipment malfunction, have cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the results.
Despite these challenges, Mr. Ajayi noted that the situation in his voting area remained relatively peaceful. However, the overarching sentiment is one of disappointment and concern about the future of elections in Nigeria if such irregularities persist.
