2023 election: INEC told to take responsibility, end impunity for vote buying immediately
SERAP disclosed this in a letter dated Saturday and signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
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.
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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 underestimatedCLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
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.”