Nigeria, Sep 29, 2016 – The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) today said that cash was freely used to influence the outcome of the governorship election in Edo State.
In a statement, Chairman TMG, Mr. Abiola Akioyede-Afolabi (PhD) however condemned the development, stressing that those who sell their votes surrender their power and strength as citizens and are thus robbed of their moral rights to hold political accountable or question any wrong doing by politicians.
“This will be a sore narrative of 2016 Edo State Election. We condemn the pathetic, sorrowful and ignoble act as it is our considered view that when people sell their votes, they become slaves to those who bought it, they surrender their power and strength as citizens and they are robbed of the moral right to hold the politicians accountable or question any wrong doing by the politicians”, he said.
The TMG however commended the level of participation in the election by the citizens of Edo State and congratulate them for their peaceful conduct throughout the Election Day process.
“TMG also observed that the adequate security presence at the polling units was of tremendous help in maintaining the peaceful environment. TMG notes further that the process provided most people of Edo State with a meaningful opportunity to exercise their rights to vote, and that in spite of the few reported incidents of intimidation, violence, and voter inducement, these incidents do not significantly undermine the integrity of the accreditation, voting and counting processes”, TMG said.
