• Commends INEC on transparency
From Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Abuja
The Centre for Transparency Advocacy has condemned vote-buying and selling in Nigeria’s elections, just as it called on security agencies to tackle the illegal acts.
In a statement issued by Cthe Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi, on the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states, CTA noted that politicians have entrenched the illegal act of vote-buying and vote-selling; with security agencies doing nothing to tackle the illegal acts
“In our elections, vote buying has solidified into a crime that involves the majority of political parties and their operatives.
“According to our observers, vote buying and selling were rampant, with the main parties using inventive vote-buying plans and strategies to elude law enforcement.
“The three states of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi were all part of this unpleasant trend. The INEC, security agencies, Nigerians, and other interested parties must devise strategies to deal with this unpleasant occurrence.
“It is imperative that political parties acknowledge that incentivizing vote buying is illegal, and that security authorities hold party officials accountable for the vote-buying actions of their agents,” noted CTA.
Political parties were also enjoined to “mobilize voters instead of waiting to buy votes on election day. This could also reduce voter apathy as witnessed in these elections. Security agencies should also be well-versed in the functions of election observers”
CTA also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission on transparency and improvements in the country’s electoral process
“We noted improvement with general conduct of the elections by INEC in the three states. We hope that the peaceful atmosphere witnessed will be sustained as we look forward to Edo and Ondo States Governorship Elections in 2024…”