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A civic organization, BudgIT Foundation, has called for the implementation of laws against vote-trading to curb the trend of vote merchandising.
The programme manager, Henry Omokhaye, in a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo, yesterday, challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Economic Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) to monitor the political parties’ campaign funds starting from the Osun State governorship election.
He said: “INEC and EFCC should develop a strategic collaborative framework for effective monitoring of political parties’ campaign funds to effectively curb electoral fraud, including vote-buying.
“Civil society groups should advocate and apply pressure on police and other law enforcement agencies to arrest, investigate and diligently prosecute those involved in the act of vote trading.
“Media and civil society organisations need to intensify voter education and enlightenment campaigns on the negative implications of vote-trading– particularly on how it raises the costs of elections, promotes political corruption and undermines good governance,” he added.
