Vote Buying, Vote Selling Now A Cancer – EU, JDPMC Tells Electorates 

… As Police, INEC, NUJ, IPAC, NAWOJ, CAN, NYCN, JONAPWD, Others Declare War On Agents Of Vote Trading Ahead Ondo Poll

By Joseph Sunday 

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Vote buying and vote trading has now been described as a cancer inimical to the existence and survival of the Nigeria’s democracy at a one day workshop organized by the European Union, EU, and the Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre, JDPMC, held at the BON Hotel Royal Parklane located at Ijapo Estate in Akure, Ondo State for the high-level multi-stakeholders dialogue just as the Police, INEC, NUJ, IPAC, NAWOJ, CAN, NYCN, JONAPWD, Others declare war on agents of vote trading ahead Ondo poll and across States like Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo and Osun. 

Welcoming the participants to the one day high – level multi – stakeholders dialogue on Wednesday, the General Coordinator for the Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre, JDPMC, in Osogbo, Rev. Fr. Peter Akinkunmi, represented by Mr Festus Ojewumi, explained that the dialogue was organized to address the menace of vote buying in the Country’s electoral system, and focusing on the 2024 Ondo State Gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on November 16th. 

Adding, he said, it is the expectation of both the European Union and the Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre to use the dialogue as an opportunity to find a lasting solution on ways the menace of vote buying and vote selling can be tackled. 

Addressing the participants in his capacity as the Program Manager for the European Union Support For Democratic Governance In Nigeria, Face 2, EU-SDGN, Mr Festus Ojewumi assured that the campaign against vote buying and vote selling will not be a jamboree. 

He used the programme to sought for  the support of the security agencies in getting the perpetrators of the vote buying and vote selling that may be arrested during the November 16th Governorship Election in Ondo State to also be prosecuted to serve as deterrent others. 

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He also called on the need for the media to increase its sensitization and awareness so that the electorates will see reasons why they need to shun vote buying and vote selling thereby preventing the Country’s electoral system from being seriously affected. 

He expressed the readiness to continue to engage other stakeholders that will help promote the credibility of the Country’s electoral system by raising citizens awareness on the need to curb the menace. 

Speaking on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at the dialogue, the Head of Publicity of the INEC in Ondo State, Dr Temitope Akanmu urged the public to disregard comments and blames been shifted on the Country’s electoral umpire as it cannot be blamed for the involvement of politicians engaging in vote buying as well as the electorates selling their votes. 

He however warned those with the intention of engaging in vote buying and vote selling during the November 16th, 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election to have a change of mind as the electoral body has resolved that its voting centres across the State will not be an avenue for vote trading or vote buying. 

He pointed out that everything has been out in place for voters to vote and for their secrecy to be ensured. According to Dr Akanmu, he said, “the setting up of the polling units has been designed in such a manner that ballot papers will be issued out to the voters, in a way that it would ensure the secrecy of votes and the voters”, he assured.

In his own remarks, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, CP Abayomi represented by ACP Olawoye Ezekiel in charge of Operations, also argued that the Police as one of the election stakeholders in the Country will never engage or be involved in vote buying or vote selling in an election. 

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He however stressed that the primary duty of the Police during elections is to maintain adequate security to protect both the voters and the election managers. 

He also assured that the Police will not go to the polling units to give or provide cover for vote buyers or vote sellers, explaining that the 2022 Police Act does not permit it to do so. 

He also expressed the readiness of the Police to ensure adequate security during the Ondo poll at every polling units where arrangements has been made to ensure the presence of three categories of policemen such as Police  Oddley which are usually unarmed, the second set who are stationed some metres away from the polling cubicles while the third are the Policemen stationed somewhere in such a way to make it easier for them to respond quickly to distress calls. 

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In remarks by both the Chairman of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists, NUJ, Ondo State Council, Comrade Leke Adegbite; and the Chairperson of NAWOJ in Ondo State, Mrs Gbadamosi Hope, they pledged that the media will not stop exposing those behind vote buying and vote selling during the elections most especially as the Ondo State Governorship Election schedule for November 16th draws nearer. 

Also, while speaking, the State IPAC Chairman, in Ondo State, Mr. Adesanya Olaoluwa, said as part of the Inter-Party Advisory Council activities ahead of the Ondo election, he announced the plan of the IPAC leadership in the State to host its National body on the 12th of November, 2024 in a bid to tackle the menace of vote buying and vote selling during elections. 

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