With 10 days to the Edo state governorship election, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has charged security agencies, particularly, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to target individuals planning to engage in vote-buying on the election day.
Yakubu made the call in Benin, the Edo state capital, Tuesday, September 10, 2024 when he met with members of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
He noted that there were interests locally and internationally in the conduct of the Edo state governorship election.
While harping on the importance of collaboration between security agencies and the commission, he said such synergy would ensure the election was widely credible and peaceful.
He deplored the threat and dangers that vote-buying posed to Nigeria’s democratic process and urged the ICPC and EFCC to implement effective strategies to combating the menace.
He said, “You need to deploy a strategy for combating vote buying. It has been a feature in our elections and the more INEC improves on the processes, the more some people try to beat the process by now going to buy the votes at the polling units.
“In any case, if people are buying votes, it means that the votes are counting, that is why they are buying the votes, but we can’t allow vote buyers to determine who wins our democratic elections. It is a democracy of the people, by the people, for the people and not a plutocracy which is only open for the rich.”
On his part, the Edo state Commissioner of Police, Nemo Edwin-Iwo, assured of adequate security before, during and after the election.
He said the police had reviewed and enhanced their strategy for securing the state and confirmed that arrangements had been finalised in synergy with other security agencies to deploy enough security personnel from both within Edo state and neighbouring states to dominate the space and ensure maximum security throughout the election process.
CP Edwin-Iwo also assured that non-state actors would not be allowed to undermine the electoral process, disclosing that security agencies have already initiated actions against groups and individuals who may be plotting to disrupt the election.
