Edo election: INEC raises alarm over the distribution of money

   
– The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised an alarm over the just concluded Edo governorship election

– INEC has called for collective efforts towards addressing inducement of voters with money by political parties

– The commission says the situation was a major feature of the Edo polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed its concerns over the inducement of voters with money by political parties at the just concluded governorship election in Edo state.

INEC deputy director on voter education and publicity, Nick Dazang made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria yesterday, September 30.

Nick Dazang, INEC’s deputy director of publicity and voter education
Dazang said the commission was troubled by reports it received on alleged inducement of voters in the just concluded Wednesday governorship election in Edo state.

His words: “The commission received about 29 calls and SMSs alleging that some people were inducing voters with money during the election.

“The reports which are from different bodies and monitoring group indicated that major political parties were involved in the ugly incident.

“We are troubled by it and I am saying that over voting and the use of money as inducement to voters is of concern to us and other stakeholders.

“Going forward we need to put this on the agenda, discuss and address it squarely before it become another major challenge to our electoral process.”

Dazang however advised voters not to allow themselves to be financially-induced during elections, adding that it amounted to selling their future.

“This is something that is rearing its ugly head and it has implication for the electoral process.

“When you collect money and vote for a person, it means you are mortgaging your right. Also that person you are collecting money from may not be able to deliver dividends of democracy to you.

“This is a right that is as ineligible as your right to life, your right to education, your right to religion freedom. All these are enshrined in the United Nations declaration.

“For you now to take money and forget your conscience shows that you are now mortgaging also your rights to vote for a candidate of your choice.

“You have equally mortgaged your right to make the man accountable at the end of the day,” he said.

The just concluded election in Edo state was marred with reports of violence, ballot snatching and financial inducement by the major parties in the poll – the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Meanwhile, the PDP has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari for being partial in his reaction after the results of the Edo election were announced.

The opposition party claimed that President Buhari’s actions were divisive, partisan and unfair for someone in his position as the country’s number one citizen.