Voters queuing to cast their votes at Ajilosun, Ado Ekiti during the July 14th Governorship Election in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday (14/7/18). 03772/14/7/2018/Timothy Adeogodiran/ICE/NAN
The electoral commission, INEC, has said it is concerned about the rampant buying of votes during elections such as witnessed in the recently concluded Ekiti governorship election.
The commission stated this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mohammed Haruna.
PREMIUM TIMES reported cases of vote buying in the Ekiti election. The two major parties in the election, APC and PDP, were culpable in it with videos showing how some of the money was shared.
Already, a civic group. SERAP, has asked INEC to work with other relevant agencies and ensure those involved in the vote buying are identified and prosecuted.
In its statement on Wednesday, INEC said it “noted with deep concern, the rising phenomenon of vote buying during elections and restated its commitment and determination to continue to work with all stakeholders, especially the security agencies, to stem the ugly trend.”
Read the full statement below.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today held its regular meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) from all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Commission reviewed the conduct of the July 14 Governorship Election in Ekiti State and preparations for the September 22, 2018 Osun Governorship Election.
It noted the satisfactory conduct of the Ekiti Governorship election as attested to by both domestic and international Observers, the Media and other Stakeholders.
The meeting also noted with deep concern, the rising phenomenon of vote buying during elections and restated its commitment and determination to continue to work with all stakeholders, especially the security agencies, to stem the ugly trend.
On the upcoming Osun Governorship Election, the meeting unanimously agreed to further improve on the successes recorded in the Ekiti Governorship Election
The meeting also reviewed the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. Against the backdrop of the decision to suspend the exercise from 17th August 2018 until after the 2019 general elections, it was resolved that starting from Wednesday 1st of August 2018:
i. the CVR exercise will take place between 9am and 5pm
(instead of 9am-3pm as obtains presently);
ii. there will also be Registration on Saturdays and Sundays
as well as public holidays (if any) within the period;
iii. the exercise will be suspended at 5pm on Friday 17th
August until after the 2019 General Elections;
The Commission assures Nigerians of its commitment to ensuring free, fair and credible elections in 2019.
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