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Tag: Vote Buying

  • #OndoDecides2020: Vote buying, low compliance with COVID-19 protocol characterised poll – CSO

    #OndoDecides2020: Vote buying, low compliance with COVID-19 protocol characterised poll – CSO

    A Civil Society Organisation, Yiaga Africa, says the Ondo State governorship election was marred with vote buying and inadequate compliance with Covid-19 protocol.

    Dr Aisha Abdullahi, Co-chair, Yiaga Africa 2020 Ondo Election Observation Mission, stated this on Saturday at a press conference on situational report on the election.

    Abdulahi commended INEC for early arrival of materials to polling units which saw large turnout of voters.

    Abdulahi said it received reports of vote buying from Akure South, Ose, Ondo West, Ilaje and Akure North with the secrecy of the ballot being compromised.

    “Despite attempts by polling officials to prevent voters and party agents from showing how ballot papers were marked, these electoral offenses occurred in the presence of security personnel who made no attempt in some cases to reprimand the culprits,” she said.

    She also decried that there was minimum observation of social distancing across all the polling units observed.

    Abdulahi, however, noted that the commencement of polls, compliance with INEC COVID-19 protocol on the two-tier queuing system in 88% of polling units, the presence of infrared thermometer and disinfectant/sanitizers in 74% of polling units were observed.

    She said, in assessing the electoral process’ responsiveness to the needs of persons with disabilities, it tracked the presence of disability-sensitive election materials with the presence of the Braille ballot guide in 59% of polling units.

    Abdulahi also noted that magnifying glasses in 27% of polling units, forms EC 40H (PWD Voter information and statistics) in 93% of polling units and the PWD posters Form EC 30E in 90% of polling units.

    Yiaga Africa commended the good people of Ondo State for their peaceful conduct during the voting process and pleaded they remain patient and peaceful through the voting and counting process.

  • #OndoDecides2020: Police rescue man about to be lynched for alleged vote buying

    #OndoDecides2020: Police rescue man about to be lynched for alleged vote buying

    Men of the Nigeria Police Force on Saturday rescued a man who was about to be lynched by a mob in the Owo area of Ondo State.

    The unidentified man, who claimed to be an election observer at Ward 4, Polling Unit 15, Shagari Market along the Owo-Benin Highway, was accused of approaching voters to sell their votes when he was reportedly attacked.

    The Commissioner of Police in charge of Owo and Ose Local Government Areas, Abutu Yaro, told reporters that the man was rescued while his accomplice fled the scene.

    Yaro said, “The man was arrested by the mob and the mob was even trying to lynch him, they had already torn his clothes, you can see him looking tattered already.

    “Then, we ran into them. That was when they stopped the attempt to lynch him.

    “In fact, at the time we picked him, his second, who was in another car, took off.

    “The proactive measure adopted by the members of the public was what saved the situation.

    “They wanted to mob him because he was there for vote-buying purpose and the voters resisted selling their votes.”

    The unidentified man, however, denied the allegation, saying, “I appreciate the police for rescuing me but the police didn’t arrest any other person.

    “I was mobbed because I drew the attention of the police to the people there because they were doing what was not right.

    “I am not a voter, I am not a party agent, I am observing the election,” he said while refusing to name the organisation he worked for.

    Election observer from the CSO situation room (sponsored by PLAC)Vivian Odimma told TheNewsGuru.com, TNG that In Akure South and North LGAs the cost of votes is as much as N7000 pending on the party buying.

  • Edo 2020 (Video): PDP alleges APC buying votes with FG’s emergency empowerment scheme

    Edo 2020 (Video): PDP alleges APC buying votes with FG’s emergency empowerment scheme

    The Peoples Democratic Party has accused the All Progressives Congress of intensifying vote buying in Edo State, barely three days to the September 19 gubernatorial election in the state.

    The State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chris Osa Nehikhare, who spoke on behalf of the state PDP Campaign Council on Wednesday, levelled the allegation.

    Nehikhare said: “Our attention has been drawn to a video that has been trending all day on various social media platforms, in which members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were seen distributing wrappers and money to Edo women, in exchange for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    “We are concerned that after commitments to a free, fair and credible poll, by various stakeholders in the electioneering process, the APC could still embark on schemes aimed at derailing the process through vote buying.

    “On Tuesday, we alerted the public to a similar vote buying scheme by the APC with an emergency Federal Government empowerment programme, aimed at obtaining Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from voters, ahead of the poll.

    “We noted that the scheme was contrived and packaged to be a pet project of the wife of the candidate of the APC, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, implemented through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    “We wish to state that any such scheme aimed at sharing money to voters in Edo State at this time, amounts to vote buying and we call on the international community to impose sanctions on officials of government that are behind these schemes designed to induce Edo voters, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act.”

  • Supplementary poll: Kano govt reacts to reports of violence, vote buying

    The Kano State Government on Tuesday dismissed reports that killings were perpetrated during the March 23 re-run Governorship Election in the state.

    The government, therefore, challenged those who made the claims come forward with a proof of such killings.

    The State Commissioner of Information, Malam Mohammed Garba, threw the challenge while addressing a news conference in Kano.

    “I want to challenge anyone with proof of killings during the election to come and give the names of those killed.

    “The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) claimed that two persons were killed in Nasarawa Local Government Area but we went to the area and Nasarawa Hospital as well, but we were not able to get report of any death.

    “So, if there is any person who witnessed killing of somebody in Nasarawa local government or anywhere, let him or her come forward and say so,” Garba said.

    He also debunked the rumours that there was protest after the election results were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    According to him, there were a lot of fabricated stories during the election which were the handiwork of those he described as desperate members of the opposition who wanted to discredit the election at all costs.

    “The desperation of the opposition to discredit the election was the reason why they continued to spread all sorts of rumours and lies on social media platform to misinform the public,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the supplementary election was generally peaceful besides two incidents which were quickly addressed by the security agents in the affected areas.

    He said the State Government would continue to ensure the security of lives and property in the state and urged all residents of the area to remain law abiding.

    “Kano is very peaceful because people are going about their normal businesses since the declaration of the election results by INEC, contrary to the rumours being peddled on social media platform.

    “I commend journalists for their adequate coverage of the exercise and call on them to continue to use their various media to promote peace in the state,’’ Garba said.

  • Vote buying: Thugs attack EFCC operatives for intercepting bags with cash

    Vote buying: Thugs attack EFCC operatives for intercepting bags with cash

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Saturday, intercepted bags filled with money meant for vote-buying in Makurdi, Benue.

    The commission made this known on its Facebook page, “officialefcc”.

    According to the commission, the bags were intercepted at the North Bank Area of the state capital.

    “In an attempt to arrest the culprit, some thugs attacked the EFCC operatives and vandalised the bus used for the patrol.”.

  • FG’s ‘TraderMoni’ is vote-buying – Transparency International

    Transparency International (TI) Nigeria has said the TraderMoni Scheme, a collateral-free loan initiative of the Federal Government to assist petty traders and artisans as part of the National Social Investment Programme, is a form of vote-buying.

    The Chairman of the anti-corruption organisation, Awwal Rafsanjani, who spoke on Lunchtime Politics, a programme on Channels Television, noted that the initiative was an “official use of public funds in the name of TraderMoni to actually induce voters”.

    Rafsanjani said, “It was not done three years ago. It only started close to election time.

    “That is why the Independent National Electoral Commission itself has seen this danger.

    “This is despite the statement by the President that public funds will not be used for his re-election campaign. But this, unfortunately, is contrary to what Nigerians are seeing.”

    However, the Federal Government had argued that the scheme was an empowerment initiative designed to help at least two million petty traders across the country.

    But Rafsanjani said if the government had TraderMoni as a policy plan, it should have begun its implementation earlier than a few weeks to the elections.

    He said if the FG was sincere about the scheme, it would have started it long ago.

    “Clearly, this is vote-buying, as far as I am concerned,” he added.

    Meanwhile, opposition political parties on Friday agreed with the position of TI on TraderMoni.

    The first national spokesman for the Coalition of United Political Parties, Imo Ugochinyere, expressed the group’s disappointment with the development.

    Also, the Peoples Democratic Party on Friday said TI’s report on Tradermoni had vindicated its position.

    The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, in an interview with one of our correspondents said, “We have cried out and we have told whoever cared to hear that Tradermoni is an inducement and it is very unfortunate that the Office of the Vice-President has been reduced to nothingness by inducing voters with Trademoni of N10,000.”

     

  • Vote buying, act of corruption – ICPC

    Vote buying, act of corruption – ICPC

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Friday in Lagos described vote buying as an act of corruption which the commission was committed to tackling.

    Dr Musa Abubakar, the Acting Chairman of ICPC, made the declaration at a one-day ‘National Campaign Against Vote Buying and other Electoral Malpractices’ organised by ICPC in conjunction with the Youth Alive Foundation(YAF).

    According to Abubakar, represented by Mr Shintema Binga, the Zonal Commissioner for South-West in ICPC, vote buying, which is a type of electoral fraud, takes the form of collecting payment from candidates after voting for them.

    “Such payments are usually made through agents either directly or through phone transfer.

    “Rigging can take the form of falsifying election results by changing figures to favour particular candidates.

    “This is a falsification of official records and punishable under the ICPC Act 2000,’’ he said.

    Abubakar urged Nigerian voters to shun attempts by unpatriotic elements in the society who might want to buy their conscience with foodstuff, cloth and cash.

    “If you allow them to succeed in doing so, they will make sure they steal resources meant for provision of water, healthcare, educational facilities and construction of roads.

    “If such people force themselves on you by bribing you, they will not have your time because they have already settled you.

    “I will also advise you to resist any attempt by such disgruntled elements to use your children as thugs to kill, maim and threaten political opponents.

    “Admonish your children to resist such attempts; if being a political thug is a worthy way of life, let them recall their children studying abroad and use them as thugs, but they will never,’’ he said.

    The acting chairman said that the commission had met with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman where issues of training and election monitoring were revisited.

    According to him, the commission is prepared to monitor the 2019 general elections.

    Also speaking, Mrs Ijeoma Okey-Igbokwe, the Head of Voter Education, Publicity, Protocol and Civil Society Organisations in the Lagos office of INEC, said it was disheartening to see people negotiating at voting centres.

    According to Okey-Igbokwe, vote buying starts from the period of registration of voters card.

    She urged voters not to sell their votes, adding that their votes were their conscience.

    Okey-Igbokwe, who was represented by Mrs Adenike Oriowo, the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, said the commission organises educational programmes to enlighten voters on their rights.

    Also speaking, Mr Chamberlain Etakuctoh, the Programme Coordinator for YAF, Lagos Chapter, said that vote-buying had become a national concern requiring the attention of all stakeholders.

    Etakuctoh urged voters not to allow opportunists to destroy the future of the coming generation.

    In his remarks, Dr Peter Okereke, Lead Consultant, Save Visions Africa, Lagos, said that money had become a dominant and determinant factor in the country’s politics.

    According to him, poor Nigerians are victimised by vote buying because their limited level of survival makes them susceptible to material inducement and offer of basic commodities.

    He said that vote buying was mainly caused by ignorance on the part of the electorate, apathy and poverty as well as deceit by politicians.

  • 2019 elections: INEC moves to curb vote-buying, hawking

    2019 elections: INEC moves to curb vote-buying, hawking

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decided to intensify voter education at the grassroots as part of efforts to discourage vote-buying and hawking during the 2019 elections.

    Prof. James Apam, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Kogi State, made this known in Lokoja on Thursday at the opening of a one-day capacity building workshop for officers in charge of voter education in the North Central Zone.

    The workshop brought together all INEC officers in charge of voter education in all the states and local governments in the zone.

    Apam said that vote-buying and hawking was gaining ground largely due to ignorance among voters, saying that voter education remained a potent tool to discourage the practice.

    According to him, the INEC has put in place seamless electoral process that will ensure the success of the 2019 elections.

    He charged the participants, mostly the INEC Desk Officers in charge of voter education to brace up for the challenges ahead as the bulk of educating the voters in their respective areas of coverage would fall on them.

    Mr Ahmed Biambo, Director, Voter Education and Publicity of INEC in the state, told the participants that the commission was determined to take voter education to the door steps of Nigerians.

    Biambo said that INEC was optimistic that the issues of vote-buying and hawking would be reduced to the minimum through massive voter education enlightenment.

    Participants at the workshop were drawn from the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau and Benue States.

     

  • 2019: Gbajabiamila attacks Saraki, Dogara, says FG’s ‘Trader Moni’ not vote buying

    2019: Gbajabiamila attacks Saraki, Dogara, says FG’s ‘Trader Moni’ not vote buying

    The leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos-APC) on Wednesday countered claims by Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara that the Federal Government Trader Moni initiative was aimed at enticing voters to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term bid.

    The lawmaker made this known while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday shortly after the All Progressive Congress (APC) caucus in the House met in the National Assembly.

    According to Gbajabiamila, “am shocked that legislature will say that Trader Moni is vote buying when it is the same legislature that gave the budget approval. You budget for something and then you turned around. It means you’ve done disservice to the country. You’re indicting yourself.”

    Details later…

  • 2019: FG’s cash disbursement is vote-buying, inducement – Dogara

    … Says it is highest form of corruption

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara, has condemned the distribution of cash to the public very close to general elections by public officials, saying no matter how noble the intent may be, such endeavors amount to vote buying and inducement, which is a clear case of corruption.

    Delivering remarks at a public hearing organised by the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Political Parties Matters on Vote-buying and Improving the Electoral Processes in Nigeria, Hon Dogara said the act of inducing the public with cash in exchange for their votes is a fraud that is covered within section 124 (1)(a);(b);(c); Section(124)(2)(4)(5) and Section 130 of the Electoral Act.

    He also noted that financial inducement for votes contravenes the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution, even as there is also a lack of political will to implement the laws to offer deterrence to violators and even where arrests are made, prosecutions are unheard of despite the damaging effect of the practice.

    Hon Dogara explained, “Vote buying and other sundry criminal manipulations of the electoral process in Nigeria have left our citizens in a state of unmitigated disaster. As a result, we have been married off to a mob. A mob that rules us by the example of their power nor by the dictates of law. A mob that rules by fear as an inalienable tool rather than by courage. A mob that accepts the status quo rather than challenge it. Mobs don’t grow others, they only destroy others in order to grow themselves. We follow the mob because we must, not because we are receiving any sense of significance for our own lives from them. Our democracy has stagnated and will sadly remain so until we eliminate all sham elections which have the effect of throwing up the worst of us to lead the best of us.

    “It is instructive to note that the Electoral Act anticipated and captured most forms of electoral fraud including inducement and vote buying. I hope we will have the courage at this event to address the distribution of cash to the public very close to general elections by public officials. I am afraid that such endeavours no matter how noble the intentions behind them may fall within the all-encompassing provisions of S. 124 (1)(a);(b);(c); and S.(124)(2)(4)(5) and S. 130 of the Electoral Act. Although penalties are not stringent, there is also lack of political will to implement the laws as it is, even if it were to offer feeble deterrence to violators. Arrests are hardly made and even where arrests are made, prosecutions are unheard of.

    “Indeed, the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in our Constitution envisages that Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of Democracy and that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria, through which government derives its authority, powers and legitimacy. Therefore, any form of contrivance by any person or authority to unduly influence the choice of the voter is condemnable as it is patently an assault on this constitutional guarantee.

    “Undue influence of voters has always existed in different forms all over the world, however, the recent phenomenon of direct pricing and buying of votes as if in a market square is very disturbing. It is one of the highest forms of corruption,” he stated.

    Reiterating the need for free, fair, credible and transparent elections, he stressed that that is the very basis for translating the consent of the governed into governmental authority, especially as elections are now so attractive that even pretentious democracies lay claim to holding elections just in order to confer some aura of legitimacy on their rule.

    While noting that not all elections are democratic elections, he said that for elections to qualify as democratic, they must be competitive, periodic, inclusive and definitive and free, fair, credible and transparent elections, therefore, is the very basis for translating the consent of the governed into governmental authority.

    The speaker, therefore, called on Nigerians and members of the global community to rise up for free, fair and credible elections and fight against the phenomenon of electoral fraud that could destroy the nation’s democracy and install leaders that would operate as if they are above the law.

    “The high prevalence of vote-buying in the electoral system of the country is, without any doubt, of great concern to all Nigerians and members of the global community who truly love democracy. It is disheartening that this absurd phenomenon has assumed alarming proportions in recent times. As citizens, we must not surrender to this criminality as we cannot do so and still expect honour. When political office holders defy the law and corruptly assume office, they will always operate as if they are above the law,” he added.

    Hon Dogara further noted a more worrisome dimension to vote buying which he stated is the alleged use of the officials of the electoral umpire, INEC, and officers of security agencies to induce, or intimidate and coerce voters to vote for particular candidates. He lamented that “such absurdities have been widely reported in the media and confirmed by some local and international observers in respect of the recently concluded governorship elections in Osun State.”

    “As expected, all lovers of democracy worldwide rose to condemn these despicable incidents. Condemnation is not enough, it will amount to hypocrisy, if we don’t take the bull by the horn by taking concrete steps to eliminate these evils that make mockery of our hard worn democracy.

    “Let me seize this opportunity to call on all people of goodwill in our country to rise in condemnation and denunciation of vote-buying and all forms of electoral malpractices. Indeed, electoral fraud is one of the worst forms of corruption, and should be treated as such. This is the only way we can guarantee the stability and growth of our democracy,” he charged.