The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned of the dangers of vote buying in the July 16 governorship election in Osun State, notifying candidates and their agents, including voters, that it will be in their interest to refrain from vote buying and vote selling, or risk prosecution.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, who is about ending his tenure, at the valedictory programme and media interaction at Dr. Mutiu Agboke INEC Collation Centre, state office, Agodi, Ibadan, disclosed that the commission has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute anyone caught in the act of vote buying and vote selling during the Osun governorship election. The REC maintained that the vote buying and vote selling incidents in the governorship election in Ekiti State would not be tolerated in the Saturday, July 16 governorship election in Osun State. He added that the action would be extended to the 2023 general elections.
The commissioner disclosed that INEC approved more 1,607 polling units in Oyo State, making the total number of polling units 6,390 unlike the 4,783 in Oyo State.
He requested the cooperation of security operatives in the efforts to tackle vote buying and vote selling in elections; assuring of the commitment of the INEC to transparent elections in the country.
Agboke had declared: “With less than 10 months to the forthcoming general elections, the commission is prepared to conduct credible, free, and fair elections in the state.
“However, issue of vote-buying remains a major area of concern. The commission appreciates the roles being played by the anti-corruption and security agencies in apprehending some of the perpetrators of this brazen assault on our democracy.
“In particular, we are working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure the prosecution of persons arrested in the recent Ekiti State governorship election.
“Action will commence as soon as the EFCC completes its investigation. I appeal to all security agencies and political class to continue to join hands with the commission to tackle this menace.”