YIAGA Africa has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for engaging the vote-buying, ballot-box snatching and the use of thugs to intimidate voters among others saying it is an undemocratic act.
The Chairman, Watching The Vote (WTV), Dr Hussaini Abdu, while briefing newsmen on Saturday in Abuja condemns the deployment of thugs by the two major political parties in the elections.
He said despite huge deployment of security personnel for the elections, political thugs visibly attacked voters and disrupted elections in some polling stations in Kano and Benue states without any resistance or reprimand from security agencies.
According to him, this is worrisome and raises serious questions on the effectiveness of security deployment for the supplementary elections.
He said they also received reports of destruction of the election materials, clash between political party agents and political thugs which resulted in disruption of the process in Benue State.
He further alleged that even security personnel who should be custodians of the law were bought over by desperate politicians.
“This was prevalent in Kano State in the specific locations in Kofa Gida Allahrama PU 008, Kanawa Cikin Gari Ward 05, in Sumaila LGA, Zango PU 021, Karaye ward 03, Karaye LGA, and Agawawa, PU 012, Bichi ward 02, Bichi LGA voters believed to be supporters of one of the major parties were harassed by party thugs.
“Observers were also chased away in polling unit 008, Kanawa ward, Cikin Gari ward 05, in Sumaila LGA; and PU 07, Batayya ward 02, Albasu LGA in Kano state. In Zango PU 021, Karaye ward 03, Karaye LGA in Kano state, observers and media reporters were chased away by political party thugs.
“Widespread reports of vote buying and selling were received from polling units in Plateau, Kano and Benue states. Embarrassingly, the negotiation for the bribe resulted in a brawl between police and party agents,” he said.
