CSOs alleges cash, food handouts ahead of Ekiti election

Safiya Bichi, head of knowledge management and learning at Yiaga Africa, says rumours of vote-buying and misinformation could undermine the credibility of the June 20 Ekiti governorship election.

Speaking on The Morning Brief, a programme on Channels Television, Bichi said reports of politicians distributing food items and cash to residents have become widespread ahead of Saturday’s poll.

She said Yiaga Africa has also heard allegations that some politicians are making advance payments to voters with promises to complete the payments after the election, although she noted that the organisation could not independently verify the claims.

“Rice, money and Indomie and all these food items… people are sharing. People are making promises ahead of the election,” she said.

“We’ve heard — I cannot confirm this — but we’ve also heard that some people are pledging and are giving down payments for now in the pre-election environment to make the balance payment after the election.These are rumours. We don’t know if it’s true.”

Bichi said the circulation of unverified claims highlights the dangers of information gaps during elections, warning that a lack of credible information can fuel misinformation, disinformation and other forms of information disorder.

According to her, such developments can influence voter behaviour and, in some cases, contribute to electoral violence.

She added that while political parties are expected to provide voters with accurate information about the electoral process, civil society organisations also have a responsibility to keep citizens informed.

“We don’t know if it’s true, but lack of information is an indicator of election violence itself because it might lead to disinformation, misinformation or any form of information disorder that might lead to some violence within the election system, as well as influence informed citizen behaviour or choices when it comes to elections,” she said.

“And that’s why it looks like we are — while the political parties, who are supposed to be in charge of telling people and sharing information about the elections because they are the beneficiaries of this, are busy doing some other things — we find it very important, because this election is not all about the political parties.”

Bichi said there are political actors who benefit from low voter turnout, noting that elections become more competitive when more citizens participate.

“There are times that some people gain from low turnout because the more people turn out, the more competitive the election becomes,” she said.

She warned that false information about candidates, election timelines and voting procedures could discourage citizens from participating in the electoral process.

“There are people that gain from sharing fake information about candidate participation and election timelines so that people will not turn out to vote,” she said.

Bichi also challenged the popular belief that votes do not count in Nigeria, urging young people in particular to participate in the electoral process.

“There is a popular narrative that your vote does not count. We are telling young people especially that their vote counts,” she added.