Story Summary:
- INEC Chairman’s Appeal: Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC, has called on the ICPC and EFCC to focus on tackling vote buying in the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.
- Need for Coordination: During a meeting with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), Yakubu stressed the importance of collaboration between INEC and security agencies to ensure a credible and peaceful election.
- Concerns Over Vote Buying: Yakubu warned that vote buying threatens the integrity of elections and urged the ICPC and EFCC to implement effective strategies to combat this issue.
- Security Measures: Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nemo Edwin-Iwo, assured that comprehensive security measures will be in place before, during, and after the election, with personnel deployed from Edo and neighbouring states.
- Action Against Disruptions: Edwin-Iwo also confirmed that security agencies are targeting groups and individuals that might disrupt the electoral process, aiming to maintain the integrity of the election.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged security agencies, notably the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to intensify efforts against vote buyers during the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.
Addressing members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Tuesday 10th September 2024, Prof. Yakubu emphasised the critical need for a coordinated approach between INEC and security agencies to ensure a credible, peaceful, and broadly accepted election, given the considerable local and international interest in the Edo governorship race.
Prof. Yakubu highlighted the dangers of vote buying, stating: “Vote buying undermines the integrity of our elections. While INEC continues to enhance its processes, the persistence of vote buying reveals the lengths some will go to in order to manipulate the outcome. It is imperative that the ICPC and EFCC deploy robust strategies to combat this menace.”
He further remarked: “If people are engaging in vote buying, it indicates that votes are indeed being counted. However, we cannot allow vote buyers to dictate the results of our democratic process. Our democracy is for the people, by the people, and must not be subject to the whims of those who can afford to buy votes.”
In response, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nemo Edwin-Iwo, assured that comprehensive security measures would be implemented before, during, and after the election. He explained that the police have reviewed their strategies and coordinated with other security agencies to deploy adequate personnel from Edo and neighbouring states to ensure maximum security.
Edwin-Iwo also committed to preventing disruptions by non-state actors, revealing that security agencies have initiated actions against groups and individuals who might seek to undermine the electoral process in Edo State.
