While acknowledging that a majority of security operatives arrived early for duty, the foundation said the lapses observed still pointed to the need for systemic reforms in election security management.
The CLEEN Foundation has raised concerns over vote-buying, voter inducement, security gaps, and operational shortcomings during the governorship election in Ekiti State, warning that the incidents observed in parts of the state threaten the integrity of the electoral process and require urgent intervention by relevant authorities.
The concerns were made known to SaharaReporters on Saturday by the Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Peter Maduoma, following the organisation’s observation and analysis of developments across polling units during the election.
According to Maduoma, election observers deployed by the foundation recorded incidents involving party agents in some areas of the state, particularly in Ado Ekiti and Ijero Local Government Area, where voters were allegedly influenced after casting their ballots.
He said that in Ado Ekiti, Oke Ila Ward, Polling Unit 07, party members were reportedly seen issuing tally slips to voters after they had cast their ballots and directing them to a location outside the polling unit, an action that raised suspicion of possible vote-buying or voter inducement.
