TheCable

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) says there are signs of violence in the Ondo state governorship election taking place on Saturday.

In a situation report published on Tuesday, the CDD said the current happenings in the buildup to the election could escalate into widespread violence.

The centre said previous elections in parts of the state — including the just concluded local government poll — have not been peaceful.

“The prevailing political situation ahead of the 2020 Ondo governorship election has the potential to escalate in ways that could cause widespread violence,” it said in the report.

“Since political campaigns began, CDD has been monitoring news reports to document and analyse the pre-election environment. The Centre observes an upsurge of political tensions in at least 11 of the 18 LGAs, with several reported cases of election-related violence.

“Group clashes, attacks on party secretariat and political rallies and campaigns by thugs and party supporters have been reported across the state with the highest number of incidents reported in Akure South and Idanre LGAs.

“Local government elections, conducted on the 22 August 2020, were also characterised by intimidation of voters, conflict amongst party agents, hijacking of ballot boxes and disruption of the voting process at several polling units.

“Defacing of campaign posters, murder, kidnapping, destruction of properties, assaults and intimidation of party supporters and loyalists were also reported. With political party activists and supporters key instigators of the violence.”

The CDD also said zoning could be a “strong factor” in the election going by the choice of deputy governorship candidates of the leading contenders.

In trying to predict the likely rate of voter turnout in Saturday’s poll, the centre said the turnout from past elections has been on the decline.

It noted: “Voter turnout is one of the crucial indicators of how citizens participate in the governance of their country. Higher voter turnout is in most cases a sign of the vitality of democracy, while lower turnout is usually associated with voter apathy and mistrust of the political process.

“An analysis of voter turnout in the 2012 and 2016 governorship elections in Ondo State shows that turnout rates are in decline, despite the increasing number of registered voters.”