The Independent National Electoral Commission has been advised to make public the prosecution of votes buyers and sellers arrested during the just concluded governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti States.
This was the view of guest speaker and discussants at the roundtable discussion organised by the Research and Documentation Department of the The Electoral Institute (TEI), held in Osogbo on Thursday.
The workshop with theme, “The Incident of vote buying /Vote trading in Ekiti and Osun states governorship election: Implications for democratic Consolidation and 2023 General elections in Nigeria” has popular Nigerian lawyer, Ayo Obe as the guest speaker.
One in her lead presentation diligently analysed ways to curb vote buying /vote trading that according to her, is becoming rampant in the Nigeria’s electoral system.
“I will give you two pieces of advice. First is to make vote buying cost, your vote should be priceless and also ensure vote buyers as well as vote sellers are prosecuted and publicised any conviction and sentences.
“Some people were arrested during Ekiti governorship election over vote buying but we don’t know what happen to them they should have been prosecuted by now. If issue of vote buying has been taken serious, such wouldn’t have happened in Ekiti.”
“Many of the things we highlighted 4years ago are still relevant till today, only if people are ready to adhere to them.
“We can prevent vote buying by taking these steps into action. Get out to vote. Voters education, programmes and policies, manifesto, record in office among others are to be presented by those seeking offices. Campaign should be issues-based.” She added.
In his submission, Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Dr Tella Adeniran AbdulRahman advised politicians to buy votes by fulfilling their electoral promises to the people. He lamented the increase in the incidents of vote buying and selling.
“Politicians are both expected to buy votes by fulfilling their promises to the citizens not buying votes with money from you. People should make their vote expensive not cheaply bought. Vote buying is wrong as well as vote selling ” he lamented.
In his welcome address, the Director General of TEI, Dr Saad Umar Idris, explained the essence of the programme.
“The roundtable series of the INEC Electoral institute is not new to many of us, I am pleased to to inform this audience that the electoral institute first organized a seminar on the emerging trend of the vote buying/vote trading almost four years ago.
“The Roundtable series is, therefore,an essential part of the INEC deliberate commitment to a continuous engagement with it’s critical stakeholders on issues central to elections, electoral process, electoral governance and democratic practices.” Dr Idris added.
Chairman board of BEI, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru who was represented by Prof Raji Abdulganiyu also analyzed, during his opening address,the importance of the topic of discussion.
” This phenomenon operates against all INEC’s reviewed policies,processes, innovation and initiative put in place to stem out polical/election malpractices observed during previous elections, whether General or Off-circle in Nigeria.
” The successful signing into law of the new Electoral Act,2022 by Mr President has provided the required protection for the electoral environment and electoral process.
“As a commission, our key strategy to root out Vote-Buying / Vote-Trading and achieve free,fair credible and acceptable Elections will be hinged on our continuous engagement with broad and critical stakeholders which includes Civil society organizations” he stated
