Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has cautioned Nigerians against vote trading in the 2023 general election.
Lawan said this when he received members of an election observation group, Polling Unit Ambassadors of Nigerian (PUAN) on a sensitization road walk at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The Senate President, who was presented with a red flag against vote-buying and selling, called on Nigerians especially youths to shun vote-buying and selling.
“I am waving this flag against voter inducement, so I call on all Nigerians especially the Youth to shun vote buying or selling their votes during the election.
“It gives me the opportunity to take this red flag to show it to all potential vote buyers and sellers that vote buying is criminal and punishable by the Electoral Act.
“Vote selling is also criminal and it is punishable, if you are a voter, keep your vote and decide who to vote for.
“When you vote, vote for someone or a political party that will improve your life. If you sell your vote, it’s equivalent to selling your freedom,” he said.
Lawan said that individuals who engaged in vote trading stood the chance of being prosecuted, adding that security agencies across the country had been tasked to be vigilant to arrest and prosecute those who got involved in the act.
Mr. Suleiman Dabas, Ambassador General, Polling Unit Ambassadors of Nigeria, called on politicians to shun voter inducement by avoiding vote-selling.
Dabas also urged voters not to sell their votes but to vote for the candidate of their choice during the election.
He said that the group would closely monitor polling units to expose people engaged in vote buying in the 2023 election.
Mr. Osa Osaghe, the Secretary-General, Polling Unit Ambassador of Nigeria(PUAN), said that the group was worried about increasing vote trading and was committed to exposing the perpetrators for arrest and prosecution.
Osaghe said that the group also handed over the red flag to INEC an indication that Nigerians were ready to put an end to the vote to trade.
“This is a red flag that says no to vote-buying and vote-selling on behalf of all Nigerians craving for vote credibility and wishing that in 2023 their votes will count.
“On behalf of Nigerians who are looking forward to a brighter future for our nation concerning our electoral process, we the members of PUAN are here today to present this red flag to INEC to say vote-buying for 2023 is a red flag,” he said.