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We Can’t Do Much About Ending Vote Buying – INEC

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We Can't Do Anything About Vote Buying - INEC
File Photo: INEC officials, Electorates and Election observers during a poll
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said its official duty is to prepare for and conduct polls and not to monitor vote buyers during elections, Naija News reports.

The electoral body said there is a limit to what it can do in terms of ending the act of vote buying during elections in Nigeria.

Speaking in defence of the commission, INEC Commissioner for the North Central (Niger, Kogi and Kwara States), Prof. Mohammed Sani Adam said vote buying is a national issue, a sociological problem which is targeted at jeopardizing the process of credible elections in the country.

Adam made the assertions in Minna, Niger State capital during a visit to monitor the ongoing voter registration exercise in the state.

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The government official said there are anti-corruption agencies like the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and other security apparatus basically saddled with the responsibility of monitoring criminal activities during elections.

He reiterated that the commission’s main duty is to conduct elections not monitor criminals.

“INEC has nothing to do as far as vote buying is concerned, what INEC can only do is to ensure that the polls are free, fair and all-encompassing, and also to ensure that polling units, security, materials and the process of the polling are fully observed according to the electoral act,” Adam noted.

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The INEC Commissioner also cautioned religious and traditional leaders across the country on the need to advise their subjects to desist from selling their votes during elections while advising politicians to always form the habit of accepting defeat during elections.

”The problem with most politicians in the country is they don’t always look at political offices as service to the Fatherland but as a means of selfish aggrandisement or acquiring wealth as the only business of the day, and that necessitated winning elections by all means,” Prof. Adam stated.

The official disclosed further that more funds have been released to enhance activities of INEC across Nigeria, to meet up with the 31st July dateline of closing the voter registration.

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Prof. Adam commended the effort of people in Niger State on the massive turning out for the voter registration exercise, adding that the Commission has set up a unique scheme to ensure all IDPs across the country are captured to participate in the general elections.