Osun Poll: INEC says it has no power to stop vote-buying
By Matthew Atungwu
Prior to the governorship election holding in Osun state this Saturday, July 16, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it is not its duty to stop vote-buying.
Speaking on Thursday evening, June 14, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Prof Abdulganiy Raji who reacted to a report of vote-buying and selling marring Ekiti governorship election which was held last month, noted that though the act is a criminal offence, INEC is not a security agency that can actually make arrests.
He said; “As far as vote-buying is concerned, let me tell you that INEC cannot prevent vote-buying. We can only make efforts to ensure that people are discouraged from doing it through voter education and sensitization which we have been doing extensively.
“Vote-buying and selling is a criminal offence and INEC is not a security agency that can actually make arrests. We can only inform the security agents when it [vote-buying] is taking place. Then, they (the perpetrators) will be arrested and prosecution will take place where we will be joined.
“I am always surprised when people are talking about vote buying and selling and they expect INEC to be able to stop it, an act that has nothing to do with the mandate of the management of an election.
“The people that are involved in vote-buying and selling are actually those that should be addressed.”
Raji also said that INEC would work with other critical stakeholders to curb the menace of vote-buying in Nigeria’s elections.
Also announcing that INEC has made a new design for election cubicles as part of efforts to discourage election rigging, he also disclosed that voters who refused to fold their ballot papers after thumb printing should be arrested by security agents.