OsunDecides2018: Tackling vote buying in Nigeria big challenge for INEC ― Yakubu

WORRIED by the growing concern over the vote-buying which became more pronounced during the last governorship poll in Ekiti, the national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday in Osogbo said effective measures have been perfected checkmate attempt by politician to engage in the act during this Saturday gubernatorial poll in Osun State.

He said the electoral umpire had concluded plan to disallow accredited voters from proceeding with phones into the cubicles where they would cast their votes after the collection of ballots papers from electoral officers at the polling units, just as he described votes buying by politicians as a big challenge for the commission.

Yakubu made these clarifications during a stakeholders’ meeting with governorship candidates of political parties and other relevant groups that would play vital roles in the exercise.

According to him, “this is a difficult challenge for the simple reason that the commission has consistently citizens to report violation on election day to our situation rooms for which they may require their phones. For this reasons, through which we can be reached in real time, including a toll-free INEC Citizens Contacts Centre (ICCC).”

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Yakubu stressed that “therefore, it is counter productive for the commission to introduce a blanket ban on the use of mobile phones or other photographic devices at polling units on election day. What we have done is to exclude the use of such devices by accredited voters from the time they collect their ballot papers, mark them in the cubicles and drop in the ballot box.”

He averred that “in making this clarification, we wish to appeal to bear these short inconvenience for the sanctity of the ballot and the overall credibility of our election.”

In his remark, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris maintained that “while the Police is determined to provide adequate security to have a hitch-free and credible elections, our brother politicians and their supporters are advised to desist from actions that may precipitate violence before, during and after the elections.”

He listed prohibited actions to include among others the purchase of arms and ammunition for their thugs and making hate speeches during and after the election. Conducts which will likely precipitate violence at the polling booths such as canvassing/solicitations for votes, wearing of party insignia, dissuading voters from voting for candidates of their own choice, financial inducements, loitering, blaring of siren on the day of election.”