By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) in today’s bye-election in Ibadan North federal constituency, Dr. Femi Dexter Akin-Alamu, has alleged that vote-buying openly took place in some polling units and wards during the election.
Akin-Alamu made the claim while speaking with journalists after voting at Unit 038 Ward 11 in the University of Ibadan today.
The ADC candidate said he had been informed that massive vote-buying also took place in some other areas.
He, however, said the vote-buying was possible due to the high level of poverty in the country.
“There is vote-buying going on; it is not an allegation. There is vote-buying going on from Wards one to four.
“I have the report of what is going on in Wards seven, eight and 12. So, they are not allegations. It is not an allegation; it is something that is going on.
“It is a wholesale thing. It is as a result of the fact that they are giving people money, due to the level of poverty.
“In the past, it used to be done in an enclosure. But today, it is being done in the open,” he said.
Meanwhile, the bye-election was marred by low turnout.
The exercise also witnessed heavy deployment of soldiers, policemen and ancillary security personnel.
Our reporter’s movement round the Local Government, one of the biggest in the South-West of Nigeria, showed that voters failed to turn out in droves, despite that electoral officers arrived at most polling booths as early as 7:45 a.m.
For instance, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad-hoc staff arrived most polling units in Mokola area with electoral materials before 8:00 a.m.
At Ward 6 Unit 019, Agoro House, Kabiawu Street, Mokola, only 15 votes were cast as of 2:41 p.m. when counting was done.
However, in some polling units like Idi Omo, Yemetu (Ward 4 Unit 24, where former member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dada Abiodun Awoleye, voted), there was very impressive turnout of voters.
The same was observed at Agbowo, other parts of Yemetu, Oke Aremo, and so on.
Some of the dignitaries who spoke with journalists during the exercise confirmed the low turnout, but said the exercise was peaceful and well-run.
This was with the exception of the candidate of the ADC, Dr. Akin-Alamu, who complained that vote-buying was openly done within the University of Ibadan where he voted.
Speaking on the exercise, former Deputy Governor of the state, Barrister Azeem Gbolarumi, expressed satisfaction with the poll conduct.
“You can see it for yourself that security is well coordinated. We haven’t any rancour in Agbowo area; and we haven’t heard of report of any elsewhere.
“The exercise is satisfactory,” he said.
Honourable Awoleye also told journalists that no incident was recorded as voters voted in a rancour-free environment.
As of the time of filing this report, in the afternoon, counting of votes was still ongoing at a few polling units within the Local Government.
