PDP accuses alleged APC agent of vote-buying during #OndoDecides2024

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised concerns with the Nigeria Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding claims that an agent of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been caught distributing money to voters in an attempt to influence the ongoing Ondo State governorship election, #OndoDecides2024.

According to the PDP Situation Room, the APC agent is allegedly offering financial inducements to voters in a bid to secure support for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The incident reportedly occurred at Unit 5, Ward 8, Iwaro Oka, in Akoko South West Local Government Area, where voters were allegedly approached with money and other items to sway their votes.

#OndoDecides2024

In response to these claims, the PDP has also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take action by arresting the accused APC agent for voter inducement. The PDP shared a message urging authorities to take immediate note of the situation: “Happening now, APC agents caught inducing voters by distributing money and other items in Ward 8, Unit 5, Iwaro Oka, Akoko South West Local Government Area. Police, EFCC, and other security agents, please take note.”

Additionally, the PDP raised another concern regarding the election process, calling the attention of INEC to the malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The BVAS is an electronic device deployed to read Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and authenticate voters, but according to the PDP, it was malfunctioning at Unit 4, Ward 7, in Akoko West Local Government Area. As a result, election proceedings at that unit were reportedly stalled. The PDP has urged INEC to address the situation, stating: “Election is yet to commence in unit 04 ward 7, AKOKO West due to faulty BVAS machine. INEC, please intervene.”