While reacting to the aftermath of the Osun State Gubernatorial elections, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under the leadership of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to make sure that they “take responsibility and end impunity for vote-buying and undue influence in Nigeria’s elections by adequately ensuring the immediate arrest and prosecution of suspected perpetrators of these criminal acts in the just concluded Osun State governorship election ahead of next year’s general election.”
SERAP had made this disclosure in a letter which had been dated Saturday and signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
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Recall that there are reports of a brazen pattern of vote-buying and electoral bribery in several polling units, especially by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the Osun Governorship election conducted on Saturday.
Also, vote trading was witnessed in several polling units.
SERAP’s statement partly read: “If INEC fails to act, vote buying, electoral bribery, and undue influence would remain a permanent feature of Nigeria’s elections because corrupt politicians and their sponsors would continue to engage in these criminal acts with impunity.
“This would encourage others to follow suit, and the long-term consequences of such a culture of impunity for the 2023 general elections cannot be underestimated.
“Impunity for vote buying, electoral bribery and undue influence will continue unless INEC can show leadership by satisfactorily carrying out its constitutional and statutory responsibilities to wipe out the stain of electoral bribery which now attaches to Nigeria’s elections.”
In another report, the Stakeholders of the Patriotic Youth Alliance G40 has openly lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring an electoral process that assures transparency, competence and unbiasedness with the just concluded gubernatorial election of Osun State.
The leadership of the group had also praised the security agencies for doing a wonderful job of ensuring eligible voters cast their votes in a free and conducive environment. The group said such action has reignited the lost confidence of the Osun people and Nigerians to actively participate in the coming 2023 general elections in the country.