THE Minister, Federal Ministry of Communications, Dr Adebayo Shittu has said the Ministry would collaborate with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to ensure the enactment of appropriate policies and infrastructure to mitigate the negative effects of Nigeria’s electoral process.
The Minister stated this in Abuja while declaring open, a “National Dialogue on the Challenges of Vote Buying and Selling”, organised by NOA at the Merit House, Maitama.
Expressing the effects of vote buying, he stated that vote buying is an electoral offence which can undermine the legitimacy of elections and weaken representative democracy.
Shittu urged National Orientation Agency to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Communications to leverage on Information Communications Technology (ICT) tools, to carry out innovative, education and sensitisation, to combat the spate of vote buying and selling in Nigeria’s political ecosystem.
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“We believe in innovation at solving problems and we will tirelessly pursue innovative solutions in curbing the negative effect on the credibility of our electoral process.” He emphasised.
According to him, the federal government is determined, resolute, and committed to reducing the disturbing trend of vote buying and selling in Nigeria’s electoral processes; putting Mr President’s Next Level Proposition on the crucible for a more Prosperous nation.
The Minister commended the Director General of NOA for organising the event, noting that the rising phenomenon of vote buying during election calls for deep concern because it can hamper the development of democracy in the country, and the ugly trend is a threat to the conduct of free and fair elections.
In his address, the Director General of NOA, Dr Garba said lamented the impunity perpetrated by politicians through vote buying in election days.
He said the NOA has embarked on a sensitisation exercise in all the 774 local governments across the country on vote buying and the implications.
“The accusations and counter-accusations of vote buying and selling that characterised the first stanza of the two-pronged general election has been traced by some analyst to the arrogance of the Nigerian elite, especially the politicians, who seem not to have properly analysed the growth and development patterns of the Nigerian Voter who has matured with every election circle.
“In the 2019 Presidential election, the challenge of vote buying and selling is assuming a dangerously new dimension as we have seen videos of ad-hoc INEC National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Staff thumb printing ballot papers with stacks of naira notes arranged by the side, ostensibly paid to them for this nefarious task.
“It will appear that the average politicians still believe that the voter can not be swayed by reason and logic alone. This is however not to completely discountenance the fact that many of our rural folks still look forward to these election circles as a period to take their pound of flesh from politicians most of who become far removed from the realities of their constituents once the election is over
“It is worthy of mention to state here that, cognizant of its mandate for national reorientation and sensitisation for positive values, the National Orientation Agency has already carried out sensitisation and reorientation sessions on vote buying in the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory as well as the 774 local governments.
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“The agency has also deployed video and radio jingles, flyers and posters to tackle the unwholesome challenge of vote buying. We have taken and are still talking advocacy to markets, motor parks, worship places, community centres, Traditional Rulers Palaces.
“As we strive to tackle this challenge of vote buying, it should be noted that Traditional Rulers across the country have a role to play in restoring our nation back to the path of positive values.
‘While urging you to charge members of your traditional council to take the message of the urgent need to return to the path of life driven by positive values.
“I want to use this medium to call on Traditional Rulers across the country to assist the National Orientation Agency in propagating the call for a genuine return to the tenets of our national ethics as spelt out in the 1999 constitution,” Abari said.
In his paper presentation, the coordinator, Centre for Leadership and development, Mr Otive Igbuzor blames the growing trend of vote buying and selling on poverty, unemployment and illiteracy.
He described the menace as illegal and dangerous as according to him, it makes citizens to be ruled by their inferiors which results in maladministration.
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