The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged security agents to arrest people who bring money to the polling unit with intent to influence voters during the governorship election in Edo and Ondo states.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, stated this on Thursday in Benin at a workshop for journalists on election processes and procedure amid COVID-19 pandemic.
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“INEC is mandated to organise elections but it cannot be conducting elections and be running after people sharing money at the polling units. Anybody buying votes may likely be arrested by security agents present at the polling booth.
“The will of the people should not be bought. We can’t allow impunity to rein in our elections, Nigeria must move forward,”
“No political party should be allowed to use violence, money, intimidation or undue influence to undermine the will of the people,” he said.
He called on political parties, their supporters and critical stakeholders in the forthcoming election to eschew violence and comply strictly with the Electoral Act.
Okoye noted that the commission is conducting the Edo and Ondo governorship elections and 15 outstanding by-elections within the context of COVID-19 pandemic that has substantially altered the previous ways of doing things.
“There is no alternative to the peaceful conduct of these elections as the alternative will leave the people of the two states with a constitutional logjam that may be difficult to resolve,” he said.
PDP,APC bicker
Meanwhile, the PDP has accused the APC of plotting to postpone the Edo governorship election.
The PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus who made the allegation at a press conference in Abuja, said that APC leaders were mounting pressure on INEC to shift the election date.
But reacting, the APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena last night dispelled the PDP’s claim.
“The PDP is not prepared for the forthcoming Edo and Ondo states governorship elections and it has resorted to spinning tired conspiracies about a purported inaudible tape and tales of a planned postponement of the elections,” he said.
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