The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, an election observer group, has cautioned voters in Ondo State against engaging in vote trading, warning that such actions could compromise the quality of governance in the state.
Speaking at a pre-election news conference in Akure on Friday, Mr. Franklin Oloniju, Co-Convener of the organisation, stressed that vote trading was illegal and detrimental to the development of the state.
He called on voters to resist any temptation to exchange their votes for money or other forms of inducements.
Oloniju explained that engaging in vote trading would undermine the collective aspirations of the people of Ondo State, and urged security agents to remain vigilant and ensure that anyone found participating in such illegal activities is held accountable.
ALSO READ : Ogun State set for Saturday’s local government elections, OGSIEC assures voters
The Co-Convener also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all election stakeholders to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines, in order to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.
Furthermore, Oloniju requested that election observers be given full access to collation centres, in line with international best practices for transparency and accountability.
In closing, he reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to ensuring that the will of Ondo State voters is respected, promising to continue monitoring and reporting on the electoral process to promote transparency at every stage.