OsunDecides: INEC vows to hand over vote buyers, sellers to police
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned against money politics ahead of the Osun governorship elections on Saturday.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, Professor Abdulganiyu Raji, gave the warning while speaking on Channels Television on Friday evening.
“We have the power of the Constitution to hand over vote buyers and sellers to the police,” Mr Raji said. “We don’t have the power of arrest. We only tell the security agents that this person is running foul of the law and so he’ll be arrested and will be judged during the prosecution.”
Mr Raji’s comments follow the extension of the precinct of the polling units, previously at 10 metres and now stands at 300 metres.
INEC had earlier identified vote-buying and insecurity as some of its major concerns ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Osun.
On Friday, Kimpact Development Initiative also highlighted vote buying as a predominant concern that may be observed across the state polls. Other concerns include cult clashes, attacks by political thugs and misinformation.
Peoples Gazette had earlier reported that political parties had resorted to using food items and livestock to sway the electorate in its favour.
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