| dc.description.abstract | The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) conducted a comprehensive observation of the November 21st, 2024, Edo gubernatorial election, deploying over 25 observers across the state’s 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs). This election held off-cycle, was a critical test of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) readiness for future general elections. NILDS, empowered by its mandate under Section 2(i) of the NILDS Amendment Act (2017), focuses on promoting democratic integrity through non-partisan election observation, aligning with the United Nations Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation (2005). This observation centered on technological innovation, especially the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
The election saw a 22.08% voter turnout, a decline from 25.2% in the 2020 election, signifying persistent voter apathy. NILDS’ observers noted that the BVAS generally performed well, enhancing transparency in voter accreditation and result transmission. However, technical challenges were observed, particularly regarding the fingerprint functionality of the BVAS, leading many polling units to default to facial recognition. This raised concerns about the efficiency of the BVAS’ bi-modal accreditation process. Moreover, logistical issues such as delayed deployment of election materials and security personnel were reported, particularly in areas with heavy rainfall and inadequate transportation.
Furthermore, the observation highlighted critical issues such as widespread vote-buying and voter manipulation, signaling a need for stronger enforcement of electoral laws. Despite these challenges, NILDS reported a largely peaceful election environment, with adequate security in most polling units. | en_US |
