Ahead of the Edo State off-cycle governorship election, the civil society organization Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) opened its situation room in Benin City on Friday to monitor the election.

The organization expressed concerns over security situations in the state and the potential for vote buying.

KDI also predicted a low voter turnout, estimating that it may not surpass the turnout of the 2020 election but would likely not fall below 20 percent of the collected PVCs.

During a stakeholders meeting attended by the European Union Election Observation team, civil society organizations, and the media, KDI’s Head of Research and Strategy, Olufwafemi Adebayo, noted various factors that could influence the election’s outcome. He indicated that politicians might exploit the current economic hardship to entice voters through vote buying, which he argued would undermine the electorate’s will.

“As you can see, inflation is high in the country; for some people, M2,000 will mean a lot. Politicians may use this as an instrument. Vote buying does not reflect the will of the people; it subverts it,” he stated. Adebayo urged law enforcement agencies—the EFCC, ICPC, Nigeria Police, and NSCDC—to remain vigilant in this regard.

READ ALSO: Nigeria, Russia sign MoU to rehabilitate, complete and operate Ajaokuta Steel Coy, NIOMCO

Nigerian lecturer seeks to shatter Guinness World Record with 150-hour marathon lecture

How NSCDC saved ‘runs girl’ from Abuja Yahoo boy

Regarding voter turnout, Adebayo commented, “We may not have a turnout that surpasses the last election in the state. However, our data analysis suggests it won’t be lower than 20 percent. But overall, we encourage Edo people to come out and vote for the candidate of their choice. Election is a civil affair, and they should be part of the decision-making process for their future.”

On the state’s security situation, Adebayo acknowledged ongoing violence, stating, “The environment is tense. Ironically, non-electoral violence is even more prevalent than electoral violence, which has implications for the election.”

He urged the over 35,000 security personnel deployed for the election to adhere to regulations, ensuring the safety of election materials and voters without intimidation. “The presence of security agencies is to secure the election, not to intimidate voters,” he emphasized.