Osun 2018: INEC takes campaign against vote buying to churches

Against the build-up to coming governorship poll in Osun, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Olusegun Agbaje on Sunday took the campaign to checkmate votes buying to churches in Osogbo, capital of Osun State.

He said electoral umpire would not relent its resolve to halt the vices of votes buying and its attendants’ negative effects on the nation’s democratic institutions.

Speaking during the Sunday service of the Living Faith Church, otherwise known as the Winners’ Chapel, Oke Onitea, Osogbo, Agbaje underscored the need for everybody to join the campaign, irrespective of religious, political and ethnic divides, saying INEC was effectively collaborating with all stakeholders against vote-buying before and during the September 22 governorship poll in the state.

While declaring that INEC was already exploring synergies with security agencies to prevent political parties from hijacking the exercise, he emphasised that the commission would deliver credible election, capable as serving as a template for subsequent polls in Nigeria.

According to Agbaje, the whole world was focussing their attention on Osun State over this election, stressing that international agencies such as UNDP, USAID, DFID were partnering with relevant stakeholders, with a view to ensuring the conduct of free and fair poll.

Listing punishments that would be meted to any person found to be selling or buying votes before and during election, the INEC boss reiterated that “there is a one -year jail term, N 100,000 fine, or both, for any person who makes a false statement, fails to give information or facilitate the registration of a fictitious person ”.

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“Jail term , N 500 ,000 fine , or both , awaits anyone who induced or yield to inducement of any kind by any person to vote during the exercise, pointing out that “the offences contravened the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended)”, just as he appealed to the congregation of the church to provide information to help the commission through the police to apprehend anybody that engage in any form of malpractice.

In his admonition, the Osun State Pastor-in-Charge of Winners’ Chapel, Pastor Dapo Olumuyiwa lauded the REC for the preparations towards the poll, just as he prayed for security agencies, media practitioners and others who would be involved in the election process.

He assured that “on the prayer altar, we will play our part to support the democracy of this nation. The worst of democracy is better than military rule. So we must all be responsible for the peace and stability of this nation.”