A non-governmental organization, Connected Development (CODE) has alleged that politicians are now buying votes in US Dollars.
The group also called on security agencies to be on red alert as it predicted violence at the end of voting hours.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of the group, Lawal Hamzat said: “In the South East, some of the key issues bother around delay in voting as INEC staff are yet to arrive and voting is yet to commence. We have seen this in LGAs like Umuahia south in Civic Centre Abama Housing estate polling unit and in Arochukwu Local government, in Amannagwu Hall polling unit.
“On Security: In the North East (Borno precisely), we have reports that electoral violence has disrupted elections. Reports have shown that one person has been confirmed dead and another injured in Gwoza LGA, in Gwoza town ward, at Polling unit 005. Reports reaching us is that the violence started as a retaliation to top officials attempting to buy votes.
“In the North East (In Adamawa precisely), we have several reports of the BVAS malfunctioning and the accreditation process being automatically stopped. This is happening in a place like Yola North, in the Capital School polling unit.
“Still in the North East (Adamawa), we are worried about reports of party agents sharing food which is tantamount to vote buying. This is happening in Yola North, in Jambutu Kofar Jairo. We call on voters to refuse any form of inducement and call on INEC to put a stop to it.
“On a lighter note, we have reports of voting successfully happening in several polling units across the North East. Observers have reported that the accreditation process is seamless and citizens are able to cast their ballot.
“We are also aware of positive events happening in Taraba State, in Jalingo Local government area, in Muhammed Nya polling unit, where our observers have reported that priority is being given to the elderly as well as pregnant wome.
“We are concerned of security breaches in some parts of the North East. For example, we have noted an issues of voters and INEC staff getting into a fracas in Yola South, in Wauru Jabbe polling unit. As at an hour ago, voting in this place have been disrupted and we call on relevant authorities to look into this and restore calm and order.
“In the South West, there are several reports of voting materials malfunctioning and party agents disrupting elections. For example in Lagos, Agege Local Govt, in Iloro/onitepetesi Arigidi polling unit, we have noted reports of the wrong BVAS machine deployed to the polling station.
“In Ekiti State, in Ikere LGA, Ajaka unit 003 polling unit, our observers have reported party agents fighting with security agents and causing disruptions and stopping voting
“We are concerned about reports from the North West region. For example in Sokoto State, in Sokoto South LGA, armed men attacked a polling station in Jegawa ward, and the assailants destroyed ballot boxes. This is to alert security agents to intervene and ensure citizens are allowed to cast their ballot in a peaceful manner. Nobody should be allowed to mobilize thugs and disrupt elections.
“There are also reports of late arrivals of INEC officials and materials in at least six polling units in Kaduna. In areas like Chikun LGA, in Gidansarki Polling unit and Makarfi LGA, in Dangu Zuri polling unit, where materials are not working at all.
“In the North Central, we have noted reports of a shortage of voting materials at various polling units in Nasarawa, Benue and Kogi.
“In Kogi precisely, as at 11:35am, voting was disrupted after a fight erupted and voters were attacked. Ballot papers were torn and destroyed. And no voting is happening. This is at Dekina LGA, in Udaba Dekina polling unit.
“There is also issue of priority not being given to elderly persons/pregnanct women as stipulated by guidelines in Okene LGA, in road side former road Upogoro polling unit
“In the South South region, we have reported cases of vote buying in Cross River and Akwa Ibom. Especially in Obot Akara LGA in Akwa Ibom, in Govt Primary School Ubon Akwa polling unit.
“Finally, the following are the highlights of the analysis that were published on the platform as at 12pm, 25th February, 2023: collation center, which had about 2.3% published on the UZABE platform, Security, which had about 1.7% of the published report, ballot issues, which had about 0.56% of the published report, polling station issues, which had about 66.95% published report and positive events, which had about 28.49% of the published report.
“Polling station issues which had the highest publication on UZABE had the following breakdown by geopolitical zones: SE – 11%, SW – 13.19%, NC – 19.15%, NE – 17.87%, NW – 23.4, SS – 14.47. We see that the north west had the highest polling station issues.
“Positive events which had the second highest publishing on UZABE has the following breakdown by geopolitical zones: SE – 3%, SW – 10%, NC – 27%, NE – 13%, NW – 24%, SS – 23%. We see that the north central had the highest positive events.”