INEC Lauds Security Agencies For Success Of Ekiti Election

INEC ( Photo File)

Security Agencies responsible for the July 14 Governorship Election in Ekiti State have been commended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for it role in the success of the just concluded polls in Ekiti State.

Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, the Commission’s National Commissioner and chairman. Legal Services Committee  at the side line of training for legal officers of the commission, organised by European Union Centre for Electoral Support (ECES).

Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu affirmed that the security personnel deployed for the election were professional in the dispensation of their duties.

“I was quite impressed with the conduct of the security personnel. They handled all matter professionally and were also very quick at responding to several issues brought before them during the conduct of the poll,” she said.

On the issue of vote buying, Agbamuche-Mbu who said she was disturbed about it, however said that the politicians in Ekiti developed several clever means to buy votes in last Saturday’s governorship elections.

She added that the commission is looking at ways to curb the problem of vote buying during election.

She added that a lot of voter’s education needs to be carried out to ensure that electorate understand the need for them to vote for their proffered candidate and not be induce by money to do so.

Speaking ahead of the Osun governorship polls, she said it would be smooth because ‘Osun electorate are more sophisticated.

According to her, “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.

“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 votes buying in the two local governments I supervised.

“We have to continue to enlighten and educate our electorate. We have to educate our people for them to realise that their votes count and not all about money.”