The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again restated the need for effective collaboration by stakeholders in the electoral process to combat menace of vote buying during party primaries and general elections.
Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu made the declaration on Tuesday while speaking at a meeting with security agencies under the platform, Inter -agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
While he acknowledged that much has been done in addressing vote buying, he however maintained that the collaboration to mitigate it must continue.
He said: “There is of course a lot of work to do, especially in combating vote buying. The Commission is happy with our collaboration with the law enforcement agencies, particularly the anti-graft agencies.
“Beyond the arrest of vote buyers on Election Day, our active partnership has so far resulted in the successful prosecution of some offenders in three States of the Federation. As you are aware, the problem also manifests itself during the party primaries for the election of candidates.
“In the same way that voters are targeted at Polling Units on Election Day, so too is delegate-buying at the venues of congresses and conventions for the election of candidates.
“As you can see from the Timetable and Schedule of Activities included in your folders for this meeting, party primaries for the Anambra State Governorship election begin next month, followed by the Area Council election in the FCT in June.
“We should continue to work together in partnership with other critical stakeholders to address the menace.”
He also disclosed preparation by his Commission ahead of bye-elections to fill vacancies in the National and State legislative houses. “As you are aware, nine bye-elections were conducted last year. Since then, 16 more vacancies have occurred in 12 States of the Federation involving two Senatorial Districts, five Federal Constituencies for election to the House of Representatives, and nine State Assembly Constituencies.
“In due course, the Commission will make the delimitation details available to you to guide your operational deployment for forthcoming elections. This will include the detailed locations of the Polling Units, the Registration Area Centres, the Wards, Local Government, and State collation centres.
“As usual, we will also provide you with information on the terrain, including difficult land and riverine locations. “We will also make available to you our preliminary assessment of the security situation that may warrant your special attention.
“Our experience in the management of logistics during the last Ondo State Governorship election provides the template for future elections. Better coordination in the deployment of security and electoral officials contributed to the early commencement of polls and peaceful conduct of the election, despite the challenging terrain, especially in the riverine areas.
“The forthcoming Governorship election in Anambra State must be similarly well coordinated. Together, we should continue to give Nigerians a happy experience on Election Day and beyond”.
National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, represented by
Director of Internal Security, Hassan Yahaya Abdullahi commended the security agencies for proactiveness which ensured relative peace that marked the conduct of Edo and Ondo States off season Governorship elections.
He said: “The polls witnessed seamless cooperation between the security agencies, which facilitated quick response to incidents that would have significantly disrupted the exercise.
“There was also the deployment of technology, especially drones and communication systems, as well as improved surveillance and coordination, which accounted for the timely response to incidents.
“Though the voter turnout across the two States was not as envisaged, the conduct of the electorates was impressive, albeit a few incidents of voter agitations over delayed commencement of the exercise in some polling Units, due to logistics constraints.
“Therefore, moving forward, the NSA has assured that the lessons learned from the isolated incidents recorded during the Edo and Ondo polls will be vital in refining security strategies, ahead of the forthcoming bye-elections in some parts of the Country, including the Governorship election in Anambra State, scheduled for 25th November later this year”.
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