By Eberechi Obinagwam
A non – governmental organisation, CLEEN Foundation, has disclosed that vote buying tops electoral risk factor ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The information was based on a nationwide survey the group conducted between October and December 2018 to identify electoral risks that are likely to affect the 2019 general elections.
The purpose was to assist stakeholders, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies, the Civil society organisations, to deploy appropriate responses.
Programme manager, CLEEN Foundation, Blessing Abire, revealed this on Tuesday at the capacity building workshop for police officers on election security management for the 2019 general elections.
Unveiling her research, Abire said the findings suggests that the forthcoming elections will be peaceful in 11 states that is given as Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, FCT, Jigawa, Kastina, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Oyo.
The report also said 25 states face various degrees of concern with 13 placed as Amber. They are; Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Sokoto and Yobe.
The others, Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, and Zamfara are on red.
Based on the survey, she said that disaffection with government can lead to electoral violence because overwhelming majority of the respondents believe that citizens disaffection with government either on policy grounds or economic consultations could cause electoral violence.
She however recommended that the office of the National security Adviser (ONSA) should collaborate with relevant agencies such as the Nigerian Communication Commission and the National Broadcasting Commission in establishing framework for effective monitoring and response to the use of the media to proactively prevent and counter the use of hate speech before, during and after the elections.
Speaking also, a legal practitioner, Godwin Odo, thanked the foundation for the training and encouraged them to collaborate with other security agencies for a balance knowledge.
The lawyer used the medium to employ the police officers to maintain impartiality,professionalism during the election.
