The Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has appealed to the Nigerian Police Force to assist the commission to stamp out vote-buying at polling units during elections.
Yakubu, who stated this while receiving the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris in his office yesterday, charged the police to deploy Special Forces, beginning with Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections, to ensure that what transpires at the polling units reflects the will of Nigerians.
According to the INEC boss, only votes cast freely by citizens should determine who wins the elections, not the inducement of citizens by the use of cash at polling units during elections.
“There is something that is extremely worrisome to INEC and that is open vote-buying at polling units. We have seen that in more recent elections. This is a violation of the Electoral Act, it is malpractice and you have the responsibility to ensure that this practice is stopped forthwith.
“Our democracy can never be on sale to the highest bidder, ours is a democracy and not a plutocracy for the rich. Therefore, I would like to appeal to the IGP, as we approach the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections and as we move to the 2019 general elections to pay particular attention to this disturbing practice.
“We will be happy if the police will deploy Special Forces, beginning with Ekiti and Osun to ensure that what transpires at the polling units is nothing but the will of Nigerians. Only the votes cast freely by citizens would determine who wins the elections not the inducement of citizens by the use of cash at polling units during elections.
“I am confident that given the level of cooperation and synergy we have with the police, this matter will be addressed.”
