'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has released its comprehensive report on the 2024 Ondo State governorship election, highlighting successes and challenges in the electoral process. The report, presented today in Abuja, underscores KDI's commitment to enhancing the integrity and security of Nigeria's electoral system.
KDI's observation and intervention initiatives focused on four critical areas: Election Violence Monitoring and Mitigation, Ballot Integrity Project (BIP), Campaign Finance Oversight, and NaijaElections AI Platform. These efforts were supported by a dedicated Election Data Room (EDR) for real-time monitoring and analysis of electoral incidents.
Challenges Undermine Electoral Credibility
Despite notable successes, including timely arrival of election materials, professionalism of security personnel, and effective technological integration, significant challenges undermined the credibility of the process. KDI reported widespread vote buying, compromised ballot secrecy, and technical and logistical discrepancies.
Vote buying incidents were reported across all senatorial districts, with amounts ranging from ₦1,000 to over ₦10,000. Notable cases occurred in Akure North, Okitipupa, and Owo LGAs. Party agents were also observed interfering with voter decisions in several locations.
Key Findings and Concerns
KDI raised critical issues regarding procedural inconsistencies, including discrepancies in registered voter figures, overvoting and missing votes, and violent incidents. While INEC declared 510,862 voters accredited, discrepancies involving 1,899 votes raised concerns about data accuracy.
Recommendations for Electoral Reform
To address these challenges, KDI proposed measures to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, improve technological infrastructure, and ensure transparency in results management. These include establishing mobile courts to address vote buying and other violations, conducting pre-election testing of BVAS devices, and ensuring alignment between polling unit data and collated results.
KDI commended the people of Ondo State and INEC for their efforts in conducting the election, but stressed the need for substantial reforms to enhance electoral credibility. The organization urged stakeholders to adopt international best practices while addressing local challenges.
The full KDI report, including comprehensive recommendations, is available for download at www.kimpact.org.ng.
KDI reaffirmed its commitment to promoting democratic principles and strengthening electoral integrity in Nigeria, emphasizing that progress in Ondo State must serve as a stepping stone toward achieving global electoral standards.
