A coverage advocacy group YIAGA AFRICA has accused politicians of shopping for voter playing cards in Ekiti state forward of the upcoming governorship election scheduled for July 14.
Under its Watching the Vote (WTV) challenge, YIAGA deployed 24 long run observers (LTOs) within the 16 native authorities areas of the state to observe the “pre-election environment”.
In its first of a four-part report launched on Thursday, the group reported voters’ inducement throughout the state.
The learn learn: “WTV LTOs acquired secondary reviews of shopping for and promoting of voters’ playing cards and witness/heard of distribution of cash or reward gadgets by candidates or their supporters.
“Four percent of the deployed LTOs across the state reported that they heard plausible reports of voters’ cards being sold or bought in their LGAs. More than half (54%) of LTOs either observed or witness distribution of money or gift items by politicians and their supporters.”
This, in line with the report, was recorded in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti West, Ekiti-South West, Ido / Osi, Ikole, Irepodun Ifelodu, Ise Orun, Moba and Oye native authorities areas.
“Most notably, only 8% of the LTOs reported that they personally witnessed voters’ inducement through money or gift items.”