Our correspondent, who visited some of the polling units in Gombe, observed that voters, especially women and youth, were being induced with money to vote for one of the major parties in the state. This allegation of vote buying has been a recurring decimal in the Nigerian electoral process. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has implemented measures to curb the menace.
The election in Gombe state has been peaceful, with security personnel stationed at various polling units to maintain law and order. Accreditation and voting commenced simultaneously in most polling units visited, and voters were seen adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols by wearing facemasks and observing physical distancing.
In an interview with our correspondent, the Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sadiq Abubakar, said that the commission had implemented measures to ensure the election was free, fair, and credible. He stated that the commission had provided sufficient ballot papers, result sheets, and other necessary materials for the conduct of the election.
Meanwhile, the two major political parties in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have expressed confidence in their ability to emerge victorious in the election. The APC governorship candidate, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, expressed optimism that he would be re-elected for a second term in office.
On the other hand, the PDP governorship candidate, Usman Bayero Nafada, has accused the APC of vote buying and other electoral malpractices. In a statement released by his media team, Nafada alleged that the ruling party had perfected plans to rig the election.
As of the time of filing this report, the collation of results is ongoing in various local government areas in the state. The INEC has warned against the declaration of results by unauthorized persons or bodies, urging the public to wait for the official results to be announced.