According to a statement made by the civil society organisation (CSO), the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD), there were reports of voter intimidation during the general election in Lagos, Anambra, and Imo states.
The CDD identified four major issues that shaped the electoral process, including operational challenges, violence, influence of money, and online falsehoods.
The statement went on to explain that the recorded incidents of intimidation were linked to ethnic identity and political party affiliation, and were reported by 3.4% of observers across the country. The northwest, south-south, and southeast regions were identified as the areas where intimidation was most commonly observed.
The statement provided details of some incidents of voter intimidation, including an observer in Anambra state who reported party agents directing voters on how to cast their ballot in full view of INEC ad-hoc staff. The intimidation was mostly carried out by political party thugs or loosely affiliated individuals, and some incidents were designed to suppress votes based on ethnic identity.
The statement also mentioned threats made against Igbos in Lagos by prominent political thugs, BVAS reader targeting in some parts of Imo and Anambra states, and violence in Bayelsa state that resulted in the postponement of polling in 141 units.
The CSO clarified that Nigeria’s prevailing insecurity did not significantly contribute to the incidents of violence during the election processes.