By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned alleged incidents of violence, voter intimidation, vote-buying and other electoral offences reported during Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election and several by-elections across the country.
According to Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA, the reported irregularities amounted to a dangerous assault on democracy, the rule of law and the sovereign will of the electorate.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Onwubiko expressed concern over allegations of physical attacks on voters and party agents, open voter intimidation, organised vote-buying and reports of the circulation of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
”What transpired in many polling units was not merely an election tainted by irregularities; it was a dangerous assault on democracy, an affront to the rule of law and a calculated attempt to subvert the sovereign will of the Nigerian people,” he stated.
HURIWA lamented that despite repeated promises of electoral reforms, incidents of violence, inducement and electoral impunity continue to mar elections in Nigeria.
The rights group described vote-buying as a growing criminal enterprise allegedly conducted openly during elections, noting reports that some voters were induced with cash rewards in exchange for votes while party agents allegedly demanded evidence of ballot choices before payments were made.
The association also questioned the effectiveness of security deployments during the elections, arguing that reports of vote-buying, intimidation and violence under the watch of security personnel raise concerns about election security management.
HURIWA called for the immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of all individuals implicated in electoral offences during the Ekiti governorship election and the by-elections.
The group specifically urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute all suspects arrested for vote-buying and related offences, stressing that arrests without convictions undermine public confidence in anti-corruption efforts.
It also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of voter intimidation, violence, ballot manipulation and the circulation of uncollected PVCs.
Looking ahead to future elections, including the Osun State governorship poll, HURIWA warned that unchecked electoral violence and vote-buying could further erode public trust in democratic governance.
The association therefore advocated a coordinated framework involving INEC, the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant agencies to combat electoral crimes.
According to Onwubiko, electoral offences are crimes against the Nigerian people and must no longer be treated as minor political infractions.
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