The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently warned
candidates, who would be contesting the July 14 governorship election in
Ekiti State that it will not tolerate exchange of votes for cash.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who gave the warning in Ado Ekiti at a stakeholders’ meeting, said the commission is working with law enforcement agents to prevent vote buying during the poll.
Yakubu acknowledged that recent governorship elections in Edo, Ondo and Anambra states were largely monetized. Yakubu had earlier urged the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, when the latter paid him a courtesy visit to deploy Police Special Forces at polling units to arrest politicians who engage in vote buying during elections.
“There is something that is extremely worrisome to INEC and that is open vote buying at polling units. We have seen that in more recent elections. This is a violation of the Electoral Act, it is malpractice and you have the responsibility to ensure that this practice is stopped forthwith.
“Our democracy can never be on sale to the highest bidder, ours is a democracy and not a plutocracy for the rich. Therefore, I would like to appeal to the IGP, as we approach the EKiti and Osun governorship elections and as we move to the 2019 general elections to pay particular attention to this disturbing practice. We will be happy if the police will deploy Special Forces beginning with Ekiti and Osun to ensure that what transpires at the polling units is nothing but the will of Nigerians.
“Only the votes cast freely by citizens would determine who wins the
elections not the inducement of citizens by the use of cash at polling
units during elections. I am confident that given the level of
cooperation and synergy we have with the police, this matter will be
addressed,” he said.
While vote buying is subject to punishment, the attainment of compliance to this legal provision remains a challenge. Like other electoral offences, the relevant agencies have not been able to prosecute anyone in respect of voters’ inducement.
This, perhaps, could be blamed on INEC’s lack of capacity given the large number of people involved. Sections 124 and 130 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) clearly criminalise the act of vote buying as bribery and conspiracy.
Section 130, particularly states: “A person who (a) corruptly by himself or by any other person at any time after the date of an election has been announced, directly or indirectly gives or provides or pays money to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person to vote or refrain from voting at such election, or on account of such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting at such election; or (b) being a voter, corruptly accepts or takes money or any other inducement during any of the period stated in paragraph (a) of this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000 or 12 months imprisonment or both.”
As the INEC chairman rightly noted, the drift to vote buying is
worrisome and poses a threat to free elections, which its negative
impact cannot be underestimated. There is no doubt that money is needed
for sundry services and logistics such as mobilisation for political
campaigns and rallies, printing of posters and manifestoes, production
of party emblems and other symbols, but it seems to have taken the
centre stage in the political process and it is becoming evidently clear
that it is the major determinant.
We therefore condemn the pathetic, sorrowful and ignoble act as it is
our considered view that when people sell their votes, they become
slaves to those who bought it, they surrender their power and strength
as citizens and they are robbed of the moral right to hold politicians
accountable. Against this backdrop, we call on the government of the day
not to see issue as one that should be tackled alone by INEC.
The Federal Government should take a decision to stop the trend. The police, which is under its authority must be made to rise to its responsibility.
There have always been policemen deployed to polling units and nothing stops them from arresting those perpetrating this crime. Without the collusion of the electoral officers and the security agents, inducement of voters cannot succeed.
On its part, INEC should besides seeking for deployment of Police Special Forces in the forthcoming elections, keep tab on the primaries of the various political parties as vote buying is not limited to elections. It is evident that delegates, who decide candidates for elections, usually go for the highest bidders during the nomination process.
There is no doubt that Nigeria has made significant gains in enhancing the legal framework to guide against vote buying through the Electoral Act, however, there is the need to address some of the notable inconsistencies and potential loopholes in the law to curb the act, which drives up the costs of elections for parties and candidates as well as prevents credible candidates from running for political offices.
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INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who gave the warning in Ado Ekiti at a stakeholders’ meeting, said the commission is working with law enforcement agents to prevent vote buying during the poll.
Yakubu acknowledged that recent governorship elections in Edo, Ondo and Anambra states were largely monetized. Yakubu had earlier urged the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, when the latter paid him a courtesy visit to deploy Police Special Forces at polling units to arrest politicians who engage in vote buying during elections.
“There is something that is extremely worrisome to INEC and that is open vote buying at polling units. We have seen that in more recent elections. This is a violation of the Electoral Act, it is malpractice and you have the responsibility to ensure that this practice is stopped forthwith.
“Our democracy can never be on sale to the highest bidder, ours is a democracy and not a plutocracy for the rich. Therefore, I would like to appeal to the IGP, as we approach the EKiti and Osun governorship elections and as we move to the 2019 general elections to pay particular attention to this disturbing practice. We will be happy if the police will deploy Special Forces beginning with Ekiti and Osun to ensure that what transpires at the polling units is nothing but the will of Nigerians.
While vote buying is subject to punishment, the attainment of compliance to this legal provision remains a challenge. Like other electoral offences, the relevant agencies have not been able to prosecute anyone in respect of voters’ inducement.
This, perhaps, could be blamed on INEC’s lack of capacity given the large number of people involved. Sections 124 and 130 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) clearly criminalise the act of vote buying as bribery and conspiracy.
Section 130, particularly states: “A person who (a) corruptly by himself or by any other person at any time after the date of an election has been announced, directly or indirectly gives or provides or pays money to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person to vote or refrain from voting at such election, or on account of such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting at such election; or (b) being a voter, corruptly accepts or takes money or any other inducement during any of the period stated in paragraph (a) of this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000 or 12 months imprisonment or both.”
The Federal Government should take a decision to stop the trend. The police, which is under its authority must be made to rise to its responsibility.
There have always been policemen deployed to polling units and nothing stops them from arresting those perpetrating this crime. Without the collusion of the electoral officers and the security agents, inducement of voters cannot succeed.
On its part, INEC should besides seeking for deployment of Police Special Forces in the forthcoming elections, keep tab on the primaries of the various political parties as vote buying is not limited to elections. It is evident that delegates, who decide candidates for elections, usually go for the highest bidders during the nomination process.
There is no doubt that Nigeria has made significant gains in enhancing the legal framework to guide against vote buying through the Electoral Act, however, there is the need to address some of the notable inconsistencies and potential loopholes in the law to curb the act, which drives up the costs of elections for parties and candidates as well as prevents credible candidates from running for political offices.
Pls Comment Below
This Post First Appeared On Newssplashy- Latest Nigerian News Today
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