Bilkisu Adejoh
Elections are the lifeblood of democracy, providing citizens with the opportunity to influence governance and leadership. The 2024 Ondo Governorship Election drew national and international attention, placing institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies in the spotlight to protect the integrity of the process.
In light of the above, CLEEN Foundation, a leading voice for public safety, security, and justice in Nigeria, has released its comprehensive final report on the role of security agencies in the 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election.
Presented in Akure, the report lauds the professionalism of security personnel while addressing gaps that require urgent attention to safeguard future electoral processes.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation, Peter Maduoma and made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja.
Maduoma stated that to ensure a thorough assessment, CLEEN Foundation deployed trained observers across all 18 local government areas (LGAs) of Ondo State.
These observers monitored the activities of security personnel at 3,933 polling units, supported by the foundation’s Election Security Support Centre (ESSC).
He added that the detailed field data was analyzed to provide insights into the security environment and electoral conduct.
CLEEN Foundation’s observers noted that security personnel were present across polling units, with many arriving before 7:00 a.m., ensuring early readiness.
They disclosed that most polling units were adequately staffed, with at least two officers, and some stations had three or more personnel to manage potential challenges.
The observers noted that security personnel were easily identifiable through their name tags, reflecting adherence to ethical standards. Their professionalism stood out, with 96% of observers describing them as approachable, neutral, and effective in maintaining order, which boosted public confidence in the electoral process.
CLEEN Observers expressed that polling units were largely peaceful, though isolated incidents of conflict were reported. For instance, disputes between party agents in Isalu Jigbokin Ward 8, Unit 002, and voter inducement issues in Okitipupa Ward 2, Unit 016, were swiftly de-escalated by law enforcement personnel.
However, vote trading emerged as a significant challenge. Reports indicated that party agents offered ₦5,000 to ₦10,000 per vote in multiple locations, including Okitipupa Ward 2, PU 16.
Additionally, technical issues with the BVAS device disrupted accreditation in some areas, such as Akure North, Ward 4, PU 1.
CLEEN Foundation emphasized the need for law enforcement agencies to adopt anti-vote-trading strategies, including undercover surveillance and voter sensitization campaigns.
Expanding conflict resolution training for security personnel and ensuring their timely deployment to underserved polling units were also highlighted as critical measures.
The foundation called for mechanisms to report and penalize any misconduct among security personnel.
For INEC, the foundation recommended rigorous pre-election testing to enhance the reliability of BVAS devices.
It also urged closer collaboration with anti-corruption agencies to curb vote trading at polling stations.
Civil society organizations (CSOs) were encouraged to intensify voter education campaigns, emphasizing the consequences of electoral offenses while fostering civic responsibility to reduce susceptibility to monetary inducements.
CSOs were also urged to promote active reporting of electoral irregularities by the public.
While commending the exemplary conduct of security personnel, CLEEN Foundation underscored the need for stakeholders to implement robust measures to combat vote trading and uphold the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic processes.
The foundation reaffirmed its commitment to promoting public safety, justice, and credible elections, ensuring that every vote reflects the true will of the people.
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