Vote Buying: Osun litmus test for INEC, Police

We’ll comply with INEC phone ban-Parties …Tension heightens as security, observers, others storm state ‘…INEC weak, can’t do anything’ … Direct primary I’ll curb trend – APC spokesman
As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) midwives the governorship election in Osun state today, the question on the lips of most Nigerians is whether the electoral umpire and the Police pass the litmus test of eradicating vote buying.
In this report TOPE SUNDAY and LATEEF DADA examine the trend and chances of putting an end to it.
All eyes are on the Independent National Electoral State Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as Osun state goes to the poll to elect the next governor of the state.
Indications are that the people of the state are ready to exercise their franchise in the election that is expected to be keenly contested between the top gladiators, but one dreaded issue that has dominated the discourse is vote buying.
Vote buying is a new tool employed by the politicians to win votes to their camps.
Though financial inducement of voters is not new in the country, however it took a new dimension during the recent governorship election in Anambra state.
The Anmabra poll led to the birth of the new coinage of vote buying.
Similarly, it was widely reported in the recent governorship election in Ekiti state that the two major political parties, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress, (APC) were involved in vote buying.
Tension heightens Tensions have been heightened among Stakeholders following allegations and counter-allegations among the major gladiators in the poll.
Also, in what appeared as the last minutes rush, governorship candidates of the major four political parties were in serious consultation with chieftains and electorates to seek their support.
To this end, allegations and counterallegation have continued among political parties, apparently because of fear of losing the election.
As earlier announced by the InspectorGeneral of Police, Ibrahim Idris, that the election will be policed by over 18,426 personnel, Osun state has witnessed heavy securities, with personnel of Civil Defense, DSS, immigration, among others, trooping into the state.
The security agencies have been moving around in convoys, blowing siren to register their presence.
The state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also witnessed arrival Journalists, any of who are from Lagos state, to monitor the election.
Also, civil society groups, national and international observers, have also besieged the state capital, Osogbo, for the election.
Investigation conducted by our Correspondent revealed that some Indigenes and residents, who transferred their Permanent Voters’ Card, PVCs, to Osun state, have also arrived the state in preparation for today’s election.
Also, all hotels and lodge in Osogbo have been fully booked by the visiting journalists and first-time visitors in the state while security was beefed up around the INEC office when our correspondent visited the premises on Friday afternoon.
Investigation also revealed that the election has been a major discuss in public vehicles, hospitals, canteens, while people gathered in group to discuss it on the streets.
Campaign against vote buying Shortly after the Ekiti state governorship election, the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) stepped up their advocacy against vote buying, which is believed to be have been the major decider of the governorship election in the state.
To forestall the reincarnation and possible sustenance of the Ekiti scenario, a Civil Society Organisation, ‘OurMumuDonDo’ took its campaign against `vote buying’ to Osun, with stern warning against people selling their votes during the poll.
The group, which is led by musician-turned activist, Mr Charles Oputa a.k.a Charlyboy, traversed major streets, markets and motor parks in Osogbo, the state capital with its Don’t Sell Your Vote campaign.
According to the conveners, the rally was part of the voters education initiative of the group to ensure that ordinary Nigerians get rightly involved in governance and hold leaders accountable to their campaign promises.
Charlyboy, popularly known as “Area Fada”, said: “As a group that is genuinely interested in good leadership at all levels in Nigeria, we do not want the incidence of alleged massive vote-buying that took place in Ekiti, to happen here in Osun state.
“We are here to tell the electorate that, as they go to the poll on Saturday, they should not sell their votes for any other monetary value, and then suffer for the next four years.
The ordinary people here in the market and on the streets, need to know that they must not allow desperate politicians to take advantage of hunger in the land, to rob them of their future.” Barely 42 hours to the election, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) raised the alarm that politicians were distributing of money, food items and gifts in 12 local government areas of the state, in order to induce voters is worrisome.
The TMG Chairperson, Dr.
Abiola AkiyodeAfolabi, who made the allegation via a statement said: “In the build-up to the September 22, 2018 governorship election in Osun, TMG has received reports of distribution of money, food items and gifts by politicians at Boripe, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ife North, Ife South, Obokun, Ede North, Egbedore, Boluwaduro, Ila, Irepodun, Iwo Local Government Areas of the state.
“These ugly trends are dangerous recipe against the credibility of the electoral process.
The rampant case of voter inducements does not portray the electoral process in good light as it creates serious questions on the integrity of the process and legitimacy of its outcome’’.
Church campaigns too Aside from the CSOs the church is also spearheading the campaign against vote buying.
The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Diocese of Ekiti West, also frowned at the menace.
The church warned Nigerians against the practice of vote buying, and posited that its practice is aimed at stifling people from making free choice of their candidates.
The church’s position was contained in a communiqué it issued at the 1st Session of the 7th Synod of the diocese, held at the St.
Paul’s Anglican Church, Idagba, Efon Alaaye, Ekiti state recently.
It admonished Nigerians against the practice of vote buying, which it noted, had also been gaining ground in the country, stating that the practice aimed at stifling people from making free choice of their candidates.
The church also stressed that vote buying could give a bad candidate with loads of funds an undeserved edge to the detriment of the people in the long run.
INEC, Police rise to the challenge In a bid to avoid reoccurrence of vote buying in today’s governorship election in Osun state, INEC has warned the electorate against taking photograph of their ballot papers after voting.
This according to pundits, however, may not be successful without the cooperation of politicians.
Unveiling the INEC’s preparedness to curb vote-buying, National Chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said effective measures have been perfected to checkmate attempts by politicians to engage in the act during today’s gubernatorial poll.
He said the commission had concluded plans to prohibit accredited voters from proceeding with phones into the cubicles where they would cast their votes after the collection of ballots papers from electoral officers at the polling units, just as he described votes buying by politicians as a big challenge for the commission.
“Therefore, it is counter-productive for the commission to introduce a blanket ban on the use of mobile phones or other photographic devices at polling units on election day.
What we have done is to exclude the use of such devices by accredited voters from the time they collect their ballot papers, mark them in the cubicles and drop in the ballot box.
“In making this clarification, we wish to appeal to bear this short inconvenience for the sanctity of the ballot and the overall credibility of our election,” Yakubu said.
Also on its part, the Nigeria Police Force had declared its readiness to “deal decisively” with anyone found culpable of vote buying in today’s governorship election in the state.
The Force in a statement by its Public Relationship Officer (FPRO), acting DCP Jimoh Moshood in a press statement on Police deployment for the poll said: “The Nigeria Police Force will not tolerate, condone, or allow vote buying and selling to take place anywhere in Osun state before and during the election.
“The Force hereby wishes to warn all political parties and their flag bearers to prevail on their agents, members and supporters not to engage in buying and selling of votes which is in violation of the electoral act.
“Police personnel and that of other security agencies have been trained and briefed not to abdicate their duty, hesitate or contemplate the immediate arrest, detention and hand over to the Police joint team specially setup by the IGP to tackle and deal decisively in accordance with the law anybody or group, agents of political parties or their sponsor(s) who engages or attempt vote buying and selling during the election, inclusive the buyers and the sellers will not be spared.” The battle line and the contenders A total of 48 political parties are expected to slug it out in today’s governorship election, however, the race seems to have been narrowed down to about five political parties because of the antecedence and popularity of their candidates.
They are: the All Progressives Congress (APC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Action Democratic Party (ADP).
Gboyega Oyetola Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, who is the ruling APC candidate, served under the incumbent Governor of the state, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, as the Chief of Staff.
The Iragbiji born politician in Osun Central Senatorial district area of the state is a reputed Insurance guru.
Iyiola Omisore Senator Iyiola Omisore is the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
He is a former deputy governor of the state and a two-term Senator.
Omisore hails from Ife in Osun East Senatorial District of the state.
Ademola Adeleke Senator Ademola Adeleke is the brother to the first Civil Governor of Osun stae, late Isiaka Adeleke.
His is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Adeleke is also the Senator representing Osun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
He hails from Ede Town and has been enmeshed in certificate scandal involving his secondary school certificate.
He was also disowned by the American university he claimed to graduate from.
Fatai Akinbade The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Fatai Akinbade, served as the Secretary to the State Government under the regime of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
He is from Iwo in Osun Senatorial District.
Moshood Adeoti The African Democratic Party (ADP) candidate, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, had served as the state chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Osun state before he was appointed the secretary to the state government by the Aregbesola-led government.
He is from Iwo in Osun West senatorial district area of the state.
The peace accord In a bid to forestall violence and ensure enabling environment for the electoral process in Osun, INEC chairman alongside the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, held a meeting and signed a peace accord with leadership of major contending parties, their candidates and other stakeholders in the state.
Parties back campaign Though most of the contending parties have joined the campaign against buying, it is yet to be seen the extent to which they comply with the commitments they have made.
For acting National Publicity Secretary of APC, Yekini Nabena, the ruling party introduced direct primary system to curb issues of vote buying.
According to him, it is the use of delegate system that is responsible for vote buying during elections.
He said: “In APC we are not even used to vote buying in the first place.
It is a worrying situation in the country presently and that is why we are trying as much as possible to make sure that we introduce the much talked about direct primary because if the direct primary is introduced.
It will carry along everybody, including those people at the grassroots, from the ward level.
“Delegate system is causing this vote buying, because when the other people look at it that certain people are given money because they delegates, you camp them and paid them, other people will say okay, let’s wait for him till the time for general election they will know what to do.
“So when it gets to general election they will say yesterday you paid some people as delegates so today you must pay us.
So, that is why APC is introducing direct primary so that everybody will be carried along and when everybody is carried along nobody will say, okay we will wait for you at general election because they are all participating.
“The vote buying is worrisome but APC as a party is trying everything possible to make sure that this coming election we try to sensitise our members not to be involved in act vote buying.
They should vote for the best candidates.” Similarly, representatives of some of these parties who spoke with Blueprint Weekend in Osogbo, promised to shun vote buying during the poll, just as they claimed their popularity and acceptance would win the race for them.
Speaking on behalf of the ADP, the immediate past Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Mr Sunday Akere, promised that his party will cooperate with the INEC and security agencies to prevent vote buying.
He, however, threatened that the state would be put into crisis if anybody tries to write the election figure as being insinuated.
Akere boasted that the candidate of the party, who is the immediate past secretary to the government of the state, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, and those that followed him to the new party, are grassroots politicians who are ready to ‘’run government of Osun people, by Osun people and for Osun people.’’ He said: “As you know very well, our party is a movement of the people of Osun that desire change.
We are not going to be involved in any vote buying.
We have always reiterated our commitment towards supporting INEC, CSOs and major bodies, to ensure that a stop is put to vote buying.
“Our party will not engage in it and we are appealing that the INEC should stick to its words that they will check it, and the security operatives should assist INEC in ensuring that anybody that partakes in vote buying is arrested immediately.
Anybody that thinks that he is going to use money to buy the conscience of Osun people has made a mistake.
“Osun is a different state entirely, that is why our candidate, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, campaigns with the slogan “Oto lowo, Oto niyi (money is not the same with popularity).
If you give anybody money is Osun, we have told our people that they should collect their money and they should not vote for them.
We believe strongly that vote buying will not have any impact on our election on Saturday, and Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, the candidate of the Action Democratic Party, ADP, will become Governor elected in Osun state by the grace of God.
“Our chances are bright.
We have done everything that we supposed to do as a party.
We have visited about 332 wards.
We have showed the people of Osun state that this is the time to free themselves and we have let them know that the only person that can genuinely do it for them is Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti.
Similarly, the state Chairman of the SDP in the state, Dr.
Bayo Faforiji, said the party has directed its supporters to cooperate with INEC and drop their mobile phone for the INEC officials before they cast their votes and recollect it after voting.
He said: “Vote buying is a very bad thing.
I don’t think we have had this issue of vote buying before, I think it actually started in Ekiti and everybody saw it.
It actually reduced the credibility of the election.
“Apparently, the electorate did not choose according to their conscience.
Their votes were bought.
But, having discussed severally with INEC officials in Osun state, I hope that has been reduced to minimum level in Osun.
What they told us is that, in order to prevent vote buying, that they will ban the use of mobile phone, especially when you are going to the box to cast your vote.
“You will no longer have the opportunity of snapping the ballot paper so that whoever wants to pay you will know that you have voted for their party.
They said people can come with their phone, but when between the point where they will be given the ballot paper and where they would cast their votes, they should not snap there ballot paper.
“We told our members that they should drop their mobile phones when they are going to vote.
We told them that when they collect their ballot papers, they should drop their phones, cast their votes, and collect their phones.” Speaking further he said, “We agreed with INEC that this is a welcome development.
We did not want anybody to purchase votes and we are not going to purchase votes.
“SDP is the party to beat and everybody knows.
If you look at the popularity of the SDP with the other party, you will discover that PDP and APC have failed because people are now saying that they want a credible alternative, and that credible alternative is the SDP.’’ Also, the spokesman of PDP in the state, Bamidele Salam, assured that his party will cooperate with the security and INEC in checkmating inducement of voters.
He expressed confidence that the candidate of PDP, Senator Ademola Adeleke, would win today’s election, based on his performance in the last one year when he became the Senator.
But on his part, the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of the APC in Osun state, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, opined that people are the cause of the inducement during the election because they demand money from politicians.
Oyatomi said: “People should help us put an end to the issue of vote buying.
It is an electoral fraud.
It is against the law.
Even if politician is not willing to give money, people will deliberately ask.
“Vote buying should be discouraged.
In fact, we should start from the people themselves.
When a politician approaches you that you should take money during election, when you collect the money, if he wins that election, that means you have to wait for another four years before you can enjoy dividends of democracy.
“The highest that people can give in Osun is either N25,000 or N30,000.
The best thing for whoever collects such money is to divide it by 365 days in a year.
“INEC should be supported, but the way INEC is sounding as if it is so weak to do anything, that there is no law to stop it, and I wonder what kind of law they need.
If people line up and in your eyes they are being offered money, that election cannot be said to be credible.
“We have a very bright opportunity to win the election.
We have shown to the people of the state that we can.
We have shown to them the stuff we are made of.
The kind of leadership we can offer.
“We are not the kind of politician who just believe in going to Abuja, come to this state, pays little money to workers, and goes away with the rest.
We are particularly interested in developing the state.’’ The million naira question, however, remains whether INEC and Police can tame this ugly trend of vote buying in Nigeria starting from the Osun election which will serve as litmus test for the duo