INEC Admits Vote Buying During Ekiti Election

Hamilton Nwosa
Writer

Ad

Time to End Ethnic Hate Speech in Nigeria: A Call for Introspection and Unity

By Sonny Iroche Introduction In recent times, Nigeria has witnessed an alarming rise in ethnic-driven hate speech, particularly on social media and political platforms. These divisive narratives, often fueled by ignorance, prejudice, and frustration, target whole groups of Nigerians with sweeping stereotypes. Such reckless profiling is not only misleading but also dangerous, as it undermines…

2027: Tambuwal accuses APC-controlled government of Undermining Opposition Parties

A former Sokoto State Governor and current Senator representing Sokoto South Senatorial district of Sokoto State at the Senate, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of undermining opposition political parties. In a fiery interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Tambuwal accused the APC of allegedly orchestrating…

Tinubu’s foreign trips: Peter Obi, PDP, LP, Shehu Sani, others react

Alonge: Tinubu has right to go on working vacation By Obinna Uballa President Bola Tinubu’s latest foreign trip has sparked a wave of criticisms from opposition figures, civil society actors, and political commentators, who accuse him of neglecting domestic crises while spending significant time abroad. Tinubu departed Nigeria on Thursday for a 10-day working vacation…

Ad

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is ready to curb vote buying by politicians during elections, but it has also admitted that politicians involved in the practice during Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State “were clever” about it.

National Commissioner of INEC and Chair, Legal Services Committee, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, who spoke to journalists in Benin City on Wednesday, said the commission was taking the issue of vote buying very seriously, in order to curbe the trend during the governorship election in Osun State.

“INEC is taking issue of vote buying very seriously. I am just coming as part of the Supervising National Commissioner for Ekiti and these things occur,” Agbamuche-Mbu said.

“We are having another conference on electoral offences. Vote buying is another electoral offence and we are looking at ways to curb it. Politicians keep trying their best. Politicians were clever in Ekiti. They have ingenious ways to sort themselves out. We will go back and review it and see how we can stop vote buying with the best of our ability.

“Security agencies were not involved in the two local governments I supervised. Security agencies did well in Ekiti. We have to continue to enlighten and educate our electorate. It is to educate our people for them to realize that their votes count and not all about money.”

She also spoke on the importance of adequate enlightenment and education of the electorate on the dangers of exchanging their votes for cash.

Ad

X whatsapp