General Elections Monitoring Body said Sunday it found the most violations in Saturday’s gubernatorial election were committed by incumbent governor Agusrin M. Najamuddin, seeking a re-election.
The next top violator was provincial General Elections Commission (KPUD), which the monitoring body said had acted in favor of Agusrin.
“We found and continually received reports of power abuse and money politics committed almost transparently by Agusrin M. Najamuddin from the campaigning stage to election day,” the body’s legal and violation reports division chief Wirdyaningsih said.
Monitoring the election process for three days, the body reported that among those serious were Agusrin’s promise to deliver 600,000 gas stoves and dozens of hand tractors for free to Bengkulu residents who voted for him for the second term.
Wirdyaningsih said the body also received reports that the Agusrin camp gave cash to thousands of supporters during campaigns.
On election day, she added, the body found a flyer with Agusrin telling people to go to polling booths, which is illegal.
“As the incumbent candidate, Agusrin should show respect to the law,” she said.
Backed by the Democratic Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN), Agusrin and his pair Junaidi are among five tickets who contested the Bengkulu gubernatorial seat.
Simultaneously, Bengkulu people also cast their votes for new regents in seven regencies: Lebong, Rejang Lebong, Muko-Muko, Kaur, Seluma, Kepahiang and South Bengkulu.
Quick counts held by several consultants show the Agusrin-Junaidi ticket had the most probability to win the gubernatorial election.
Helmy Hasan, a local PAN politician, also member of Agusrin’s campaign team, denied the accusations of massive violations, alleging it was part of the campaign by one of Agusrin’s contenders who knew they would lose.
