NGO denies state’s interference in 2024 Ondo governorship poll

Says election partially free, fair

A Non-Governmental organisation that advances good governance and democratic rights, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), has said there was no evidence to suggest direct state interference in the November 16, 2024 Ondo State governorship election.

The NGO, which described the poll as partially free and fair in its final statement on the election, said it was conducted with notable efforts toward transparency and monitoring.

KDI Team Lead, Bukola Idowu, who spoke during a media briefing in Abuja, yesterday, said the organisation deployed 3,362 trained observers across the 203 wards of the state, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demonstrated logistical efficiency and transparent communication of procedures.

Idowu further said that the poll saw commendable efforts to ensure equal and secret suffrage with no reported cases of voter discrimination. He, however, said that most polling officials demonstrated professionalism and timeliness in their duties.

Idowu said the organisation also reported a couple of voter registration discrepancies, over-voting, and bypassing the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in certain areas indicating systemic breaches.

He said that despite 26 verified reports of election-related violence, the overall process was relatively peaceful compared to past elections. The organisation, therefore, called for the establishment of mobile courts on election day to swiftly address cases of vote-buying, intimidation, and other violations. It also asked the government to empower anti-graft agencies to collaborate more actively with INEC in monitoring and prosecuting electoral offences.