Ahead of next Saturday's governorship election in Edo State, Yiaga Africa, a civil society organization, has accused political parties of inducing eligible voters on campaign visits.


According to TalkTalk Nigeria , the organization made the accusation at a pre-election press event in Benin City on Friday.

Cynthia Mbamalu, the organization's Director of Programs, told the press that independent voters are predominantly women.
Mbamalu claimed that the incidences occurred at Uselu Market in Egor LGA, Amiebonkhian Community in Esan North East, and Ubiaja, the administrative seat of Esan South East LGA.

She said that the crimes were conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to TalkTalk Nigeria, the claim was made during a pre-election press event in Benin City on Friday.

Cynthia Mbamalu, the organization's Director of Programs, told the press that independent voters are predominantly women.
Mbamalu claimed that the incidences occurred at Uselu Market in Egor LGA, Amiebonkhian Community in Esan North East, and Ubiaja, the administrative seat of Esan South East LGA.

She said that the crimes were conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Yiaga Africa Director of Programs noted that the state's security situation remains unstable due to kidnappings and an increase in cult activities, which have led in fatalities.


"Insecurity puts citizens at danger, and it also opens the door for political manipulation of the tenuous security environment.

"These cases were mostly reported in Egor, Esan South East and Etsako East Local Government Areas by Yiaga Africa's Watching the Vote (WTV) and Yiaga Africa's Long Term Observers (LTOs)," she told me.

She went on to say that the unrestricted spread of such activities could jeopardize the integrity and peacefulness of the voting process.

Regarding insecurity, the organization suggested that security agencies arrest and prosecute all those responsible any form of violence and voter inducement in the days leading to the election.