Ekiti: INEC admits vote-buying, says politicians clever than commissions

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has admitted there were massive vote-buying by major political parties that participated in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.
The INEC also admitted that politicians involved in the practice “were clever,” about it thereby making it almost impossible for the commission to do anything to curb vote buying.
The Commission’s National Commissioner and Chairperson, Legal Services Committee, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, who stated in Benin City yesterday, however said the INEC was ready to curb vote-buying by politicians during elections.
“INEC is taking issue of vote-buying very seriously.
I am just coming as part of the Supervising National Commissioner for Ekiti and these things occur,” Agbamuche-Mbu said.
“We are having another conference on electoral offences.
Vote-buying is another electoral offence and we are looking at ways to curb it.
Politicians keep trying their best.
Politicians were clever in Ekiti.
They have ingenious ways to sort themselves out.
We will go back and review it and see how we can stop vote buying with the best of our ability.” “Security agencies were not involved in the two local governments I supervised.
Security agencies did well in Ekiti.
We have to continue to enlighten and educate our electorate.
It is to educate our people for them to realize that their votes count and not all about money,” she added Also, Agbamuche-Mbu spoke on the importance of adequate enlightenment and education of the electorate on the dangers of exchanging their votes for cash.
As Fayemi receives certificate of return The Ekiti State Governor-elect, Kayode Fayemi, yesterday assured that he would not disappoint people of the state who gave him their mandate in Saturday’s governorship election.
Fayemi gave the assurance in Ado-Ekiti shortly after receiving the Certificate of Return as the governorelect from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Oyo, Ekiti and Osun, Adedeji Soyebi, presented the certificate to him and the Deputy Governor-elect, Bisi Egbeyemi, at the commission’s office, Ado-Ekiti.
Fayemi said that the people of the state would enjoy the benefit of good governance from October 16 when he would take over power.
He commended INEC for doing what he described as an “excellent job” in the conduct of the governorship poll.
Contrary to the claims of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fayemi said that the Saturday election was “seamless, free, fair, credible and violence-free”.
He said INEC did a good job in delivering the election in a credible and professional manner in spite of fears expressed in the build-up to the poll.
The governor-elect also commended security agencies for their services during the exercise, saying that their presence gave the electorate confidence to come out and exercise their franchise.
He hailed the APC National Working Committee (NWC) led by the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and the Executive Committee of the party in Ekiti led by the Chairman, Olajide Awe.
“For INEC, the work has just ended and for us, the work has just started.
We have a responsibility not to disappoint our people.
Ekiti people will see the benefit of good governance by the grace of God as from October 16”, he said.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, AbdulGaniyu Raji, who expressed delight that the election was held in spite of the tension that preceded it, commended the people of the state for the maturity displayed before, during and after the election.
According to him, Ekiti is moving higher with the outcome of the election.
In his remarks, Soyebi noted that the presentation of the Certificate of Return marked the end of the process of the governorship election in the state.
Soyebi, who described Ekiti as a homogeneous state, urged the people to continue being their brother’s keeper, said: “Today marks the end of the election in Ekiti State on the part of the commission which is the presentation of Certificates of Return to the governorelect and the deputy governor-elect.
“If there are issues arising from the election, there is another arm of government that will take care of that.
This is another important day in the history of the state.
“On behalf of the commission, I congratulate everybody.
Ekiti has pointed the way forward in conducting elections in Nigeria.”