By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has admonished Nigeria citizens to reject inducements to sway their votes through vote buying ahead of the 2023 general election.
This is even as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other heads of federal law enforcement agencies especially the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye has said that financial inducements to win election is the same thing as staging a coup d’ etat to takeover government of a country.
They made the above statements at a One-Day Stakeholders Summit on Addressing the Influence of Money on the 2023 General Election organised by INEC in conjunction with Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and ARCON.
The event which took place at NAF Conference Centre, Ahmadu Bello Way, Jabi, Abuja on Monday, 19th December 19, 2022, also attracted the leadership of 18 registered political parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and the media.
In his opening address the INEC Chairman posited that the negative role of money in elections goes to the very heart of Nigeria democracy, destroys the basis of democratic elections, renders the emergence of the right candidates extremely difficult, undermines fair electoral adjudication, and destroys the professional and independent conduct of INEC officials and other public agencies involved in elections.
He therefore urged Nigerians to engage effectively in stopping the negative use of money in the electoral process generally by reporting cases to INEC and law enforcement agencies.
Professor Yakubu lamented that the Commission is worried that criminal money may find its way into the elections through money laundering.
He pointed out that the pernicious use of money tremendously increases the likelihood of election violence due to a “win at all costs” mentality among contestants who would have invested a fortune in election.
Said he: “Surely, election is not a business venture for profit. Instead, it is an application to serve the people with the understanding that they may prefer someone else on one occasion. But then, there would be an opportunity to reapply after four years. Citizens’ choices must never be subverted by the negative use of money”.
According to him, Civil Society Organisations should make this a major plank of both their pre-election and election observation activities while Financial institutions, religious organisations, traditional institutions, the media, civic bodies and, above all, citizens must also join in this fight.
“The Commission is aware that legal provisions and the actions of the agencies are critical but will not be enough to completely root out the deep-seated cancer of corrupt money in our elections” he said.
The INEC boss reminded the public that the ban on cell phones at voting cubicles is still in force, adding
“We have for some time now reorganised our Polling Units so that ballot boxes are placed next to the voting cubicles to forestall the practice by unscrupulous voters of showing their marked ballot papers to vote buyers”.
Professor Yakubu appealed to voters to draw the attention of their polling officials wherever they observe that these basic rules are not complied with.
He reassured Nigerians that INEC is determined to ensure a solid election management system and a legacy of credible elections in Nigeria.
He believed that every conscientious Nigerian wants them to do so as the Commission harbour no illusion that it is going to be easy to root out the negative influence of money on the elections, but are determined to tackle it.
“We fully realise that today’s initiative will not go down well with people who may not be committed to the growth of our ELECTORAL system and the consolidation of our democracy. We expect them to fight back.
Also speaking at the event, ICPC boss roundly condemned vote buying, saying that using financial inducements to procure election victory is akin to a coup d’ etat hence Nigerians have not enjoyed the dividends of democracy.
According to him any person who purchased his or her election victory cares less about the electorates because he or she believes he or her has paid them off, pointing out that vote buying is an evil that must be fought to a standstill if Nigeria will move forward.
He however assured that law enforcement agencies are determined to support INEC to combat the vote buying in the 2023 general election just as he stated that they will seat down to review and implement relevant laws including the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC legal framework.
Said he:” It’s gratifying that appropriate law enforcement agencies are tracking and monitoring the implementation of the CBN cash withdrawal limits. Also, the presence of law enforcement agencies during the elections will help to deter election manipulation”.
Professor Owasanoye also said election financing will be monitored, pointing out that law enforcement agencies will monitor media and advertising agencies to know how politicians finance their campaigns.
Meanwhile, the IGP who was represented at the event by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Bala Ciroma has vowed that the Police is poised to arrest and prosecute anyone caught in vote buying and selling during the 2023 general election.
Also, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Director General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Modibbo Haman Tukur has revealed that his organisation in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies are determined to back INEC to deliver a free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
Said he: “What can we do at this election time for INEC, we are going to flag any suspicious financial transactions of all the presidential candidates. We know those who have the propensity to use money to purchase elections”.
“In line to what CBN is doing, there is likely to be a ban on bulk withdrawal of cash by government MDAs from 2023. Every government transactions will be cashless so let us give the CBN Cashless Policy a chance”.
According to him, “the 2023 general election is more important any other thing anyone is doing in Nigeria, so we are going to activate all our processes to pre-empt the bad guys”.
