2022: As the technology of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) makes the traditional methods of rigging elections ineffective, politicians have resorted to vote-buying as witnessed massively in the just-concluded governorship election in Osun State, Bright Gbotemi writes.
With the 2023 general election drawing closer, INEC is preoccupied with how to conduct a credible general election. No time did this question become an issue of national debate than during the last governorship election for 2022 in Osun State due to the prevalence of vote buying or selling that charaterised the process and of course, tainted the credibility of the election.
Nearly all observers reported that the cases of bribery of voters and inducement were prevalent in virtually all the 30 local government areas (LGAs) in the state contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
According to some reports, the electorate willingly placed monetary values on their votes without weighing the consequences of their decisions.
In its reports, for instance, observers under Yiaga Africa documented how the party loyalists of All Progressives Congress (APC), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were doling out cash – ranging from N1,000, N2000 to N10,000 – in exchange for the votes of the willing sellers.
This reporter observed that there was massive vote buying. Two major political parties namely, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engaged in vote-buying.
In some polling units, Voice air media observed that some party loyalists scattered themselves at strategic places to engage and give out N5000 to voters.
It was also observed that security agencies also aided vote buying. Police officers allowed party agents to buy votes freely and they also assisted in the transactions. There were cases of careless vote-buying which were reported to police officers but were not attended too.
Meanwhile, according to report on 17th July, 2022 from the media & publicity room of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested four persons for offences bordering on vote buying during the governorship election which held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 in Osun State.
The suspects are Yekini Nurudeen Abiodun, Jimoh Kazeem, Adeyemo Bahir and Abidogun Ismail.
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They were arrested by operatives of the EFCC at different polling units following credible intelligence while trading vote for cash in Oshogbo, the state capital.
Three of the suspects were arrested at Polling Unit 002, Ward 2, Ababu, Isale Osun, Oshogbo except for Abiodun that was nabbed at Unit 2, Isale Agbara, Oshogbo.
The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations, EFCC said.
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