INEC Warns Against Vote Buying Ahead Of Ekiti Governorship Poll
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
With concerns over electoral integrity growing in Nigeria, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has warned that anyone involved in vote buying or vote trading during the upcoming Ekiti governorship election must face arrest and prosecution.
Speaking on Wednesday during the presentation of the voters’ register to political parties in Ekiti State ahead of the June 20 governorship election, Amupitan described vote trading as one of the biggest threats to credible elections in Nigeria.
He urged security agencies, particularly the police, EFCC and ICPC, to clamp down on offenders, stressing that the Electoral Act criminalises vote buying.
According to him, about 1,059,360 eligible voters are expected to participate in the election, reflecting an increase of roughly 66,000 new voters from the 2023 register following the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
Amupitan assured political parties and voters that INEC remained committed to conducting a transparent, free and credible election, while urging parties to mobilise supporters peacefully and focus campaigns on issues rather than personalities.
He also announced that political parties would sign a peace accord ahead of the poll as part of efforts to ensure a violence-free election.
National Commissioner supervising Ekiti State, Sam Olumekun, said the publication of the register demonstrated INEC’s commitment to transparency and inclusiveness, while Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, declared the state fully prepared for the election.
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