The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, has lamented that vote buying remains the the major concern of the commission.
He said this in Osogbo, Osun State during a stakeholders’ forum on the 2018 Governorship Election billed for September 22 in the state.
Prof. Yakubu noted that INEC has done necessary things to ensure a free, fair and transparent election on Saturday.
He expressed worry that the major challenge facing the Commission at the moment is vote buying.
He said necessary mechanisms have been put in place to prevent vote buying and vote inducement in the election.
The INEC boss said out of fourteen procedures contained in the timetable of Osun election, twelve have been successfully carried out and that the remaining would be done as scheduled.
Prof. Yakubu said the use of mobile phones will be restricted at the polling centres as part of measures to check vote buying given the fact that those that sell their votes often snap their ballot papers as evidence and receipt for the money received from politicians that buy votes.
He said 73% of Permanent Voter Cards have been distributed in the state and that INEC is fully prepared for the exercise.
Also speaking at the forum, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris said 18,426 policemen would be deployed for the election.
The IGP said the policemen that would be deployed for the election have been trained properly.
He assured that the Federal Government has provided funds for the payment of allowances of the policemen deployed for the election.
In his remark, the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, called on the people of Osun state to set a legacy of good conduct that is worthy of emulation.
Ogunwusi urged all stakeholders including INEC, security operatives, politicians, and voters, among others to put Nigeria first in their engagement.
The monarch advised parents to talk to their children and wards to be of good behaviour and shun any form of violence and financial inducement.
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