How Voters In Kaduna, Kwara Were Induced With Cash, Food Items, Bank Transfers – Report
Adedokun Waliyu 
The FIDA report added that in most of the places monitored, there was absence of security personnel which allowed vote-buyers and vote-sellers to have a field day.
An election monitoring report by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has stated that voters in Kaduna and Kwara states were induced by major political parties with money, food items and drinks.
The FIDA report added that in most of the places monitored, there was absence of security personnel which allowed vote-buyers and vote-sellers to have a field day.
In the situation report signed by Mrs Amina Agbaje, FIDA Country Vice President/National President, and released from the situation room in Abuja, the lawyers association added that the turnout of voters was lower than that of February 25 general elections.
FIDA Nigeria monitored the elections with support from the UN Women and the Government of Canada under the Advance Women Political Participation Project.
The report said, “In 94.3% of polling units visited, the BVAS Machine was highly functional, however in 5.7% of the polling units observed experienced technical difficulty which limited women participation.
“However in 2.9% of the polling units, women were discouraged and went home. For example at Polling unit 11, Gwantu ward, Sanga LGA, and polling unit 02, ward 4, Kachia LGA, domiciled in Kaduna state, witnessed elections commencing late due to malfunctioning of the BVAS. From our observations, there were no incidences of ballot box snatching or destruction by thugs.
“FIDA Nigeria observed a few disturbing incidents of vote trading across 8.6% of the polling units. However, 91.4% witnessed no incidences of vote trading in the polling units. At polling unit 027, tudun wada, Zaria LGA, women were observed being induced by party agents towards swaying their votes for a particular party with the sum of N1, 000.
“84.3% of female party agents and politicians were found perpetuating vote buying. At polling unit 21, ward 18, Sabon-gari LGA, Kaduna state, women were observed obtaining food items towards swaying their votes to a leading party. At polling unit 004, ward 7, Ilorin West LGA, Kwara State, female voters were persuaded to vote for another party with the promise of a bank transfer after voting.
“At polling unit 11, Hayin Mahuta Ward, GIwa LGA, Kaduna state, a leading political party was observed disbursing funds to women. At polling unit 009, community secondary school, Irepodun LGA, Kwara state, women were being induced to vote for a particular party with undisclosed sums of money, food and drinks. Similarly at polling unit 001, ward 04, Ekiti LGA, women were reportedly given food items to buy their votes.
“We will continually update the media as we receive further information from our deployed observers.
“FIDA Nigeria will continue to observe the elections and later issue her post- election statement to detail more on the overall participation of women and perpetrated violence,” the report said.
