Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has asked security agents not to spare anybody found to be engaged in vote buying or vote trading.
He spoke on Wednesday while presenting the register of voters to political parties in Ekiti State ahead of the June 20 governorship election.
Prof. Amupitan, who said such persons should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law, stated that vote buying has been one of the major problems facing the nation’s electoral process.
He disclosed that about 1,059,360 eligible voters will participate in the Ekiti governorship election and asked political parties to scrutinise the register and make their observations known within the window allowed by law.
He said “I also want to reiterate that one of the major challenges and constraints of our electoral process is the issue of vote buying or vote trading. This is a criminal offence under the Electoral Act and it is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies, especially the EFCC, the ICPC and the police, to ensure that those that are involved in it are arrested and promptly prosecuted.
“It is the responsibility of INEC to prosecute. Therefore, we urge all political parties to please refrain from this issue of vote trading because it is a big minus to the electoral process in Nigeria. So, on these notes, I want to thank all of you for your attention and to assure you that together we will build democracy in Nigeria and Nigeria will be better for it”.
He described the presentation of the voter register as a momentous day because “we are performing a constitutional and a statutory duty of the publication and presentation of the voters’ register for Ekiti State preparatory to the off-cycle governorship election that will be coming up in a month’s time.
“The Electoral Act requires that 30 days before the election, the register of voters must be published and presented to the political parties. So, it is with great sense of responsibility and a sense of commitment that I stand before you today. This moment signifies a crucial step in reinforcing the integrity, the transparency, and credibility of our electoral process”.
According to him, “the voters’ register is the foundation upon which free, fair, and credible elections are built, adding that its accuracy, completeness, and integrity are paramount to ensuring that every eligible voter’s voice is heard and that the will of the people is accurately reflected.
“Today, we stand here to present to you a comprehensive and meticulously compiled voters’ register prepared after a rigorous data collection, total verification, and diligent keying exercise after the first phase and the second phase of the continuous voters’ registration, which, because of the election in Ekiti State, we had to stop in compliance with the provisions of Section 9 of the Electoral Act so that we can face the election proper.
“I want to assure you that we have satisfied all the provisions in Section 9 of the Electoral Act by updating and even including the newly registered voters together with the previous records that we have that in the 2023 election, we had about 900,000 voters registered in Ekiti State.
“But as a result of the continuous voters’ registration, the number has increased to about 1,059,660, which represents an addition of about 66,000 additional new voters.
“This is encouraging, even though we had expected more numbers from those that are eligible to vote. Today, we are very happy and pleased to assure you that the Register was developed through careful collaboration with relevant stakeholders, of which the process is still on for this event today, and utilising innovative technology to ensure its reliability and accuracy.
“As political parties, you are here today, and stakeholders, your role in safeguarding the integrity of this process cannot be overstated. We urge you to review the Register diligently and report any discrepancies promptly and adhere strictly to the guidelines provided for the upcoming elections.
“It is the responsibility of INEC to conduct free, credible, and transparent elections. But let me say that INEC cannot do it alone. It is a shared responsibility. So the political parties will have their own role to play in this very, very important constitutional assignment.
“While it is the responsibility of INEC to comply and perform its statutory duties under the Constitution, including the conduct of elections, registration of voters, publications and presentations of registered voters, it is the responsibility of political parties to also mobilise these registered voters to come out and vote on the day of election.
“I want to assure you that your vote will count. Let me give the example of Anambra’s 8th election. That was the first election that was conducted under my watch.
“I want to report that the number of voters that turned out increased significantly and because the election was peaceful, it was transparent, it was fair and free, there was not any dispute about that election. Results were transmitted in good style.
“In 2022, when Anambra election was conducted, it took five days to conduct that election. But last year, it took us just a day. The election was conducted freely and fairly and by 7 p.m. on the day of the election, 93% of the results had already been transmitted to the INEC. And the same thing happened during the FCT election. So I want to assure you that your vote will count.
“We urge voters to come out en masse, because that is the responsibility of INEC to educate voters’ education. For political parties, it is your responsibility to mobilise the voters to come and vote. And that is very important.
“Our collective commitment to transparency, trust and adherence to democratic principles will determine the success of this election. Let us work together in the spirit of fairness, integrity, and practice to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.
“Let me also announce that by tomorrow we shall be signing a peace accord, which is a social contract among the political parties and between the political parties and the people of Ekiti and Nigeria that the election must be held peacefully. Campaigns must be based on issues and not on the personality of the parties.
“So please, let us ensure that as we turn out to sign the peace accord, let us also do what we are signing. Let us walk the talk.”
National Commissioner supervising Ekiti State, Sam Olumekun, informed the INEC Chairman that Ekiti has always been the first to announce elections without any rancour or acrimony.
Olumekun said the presentation of the register to political parties reflects the Commission’s commitment under the legal framework guiding its activities to produce a register that is accurate, credible and inclusive.
He said the publication and presentation of this register is not a mere formality. It is the opportunity for political parties, accredited observers and citizens of Ekiti State to inspect, verify and raise any further objections within the window provided by law.
“Transparency at this stage strengthens confidence in outcome on election day. I want to assure all stakeholders on behalf of the Chairman and the Commission that INEC remains bound by the principles of neutrality, transparency and fidelity to all legal provisions and remains committed to ensuring the conduct of credible, free and fair conclusive elections at all times.
“No eligible voter has been disenfranchised and no ineligible name will be allowed on the voter’s register,” he said, while asking political parties to maintain the peace as the election day draws nearer.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the state was fully ready for the Ekiti elections.
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