Vote Buying: Group Wants Stiffer Sanctions For Offenders

Cleen Foundation, a non-profit organisa-tion, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to impose significant sanction against any political parties involved in vote buying in elections.
The organisation suggests that INEC should begin the sanction with any vote-buying party in the Nov. 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi.
Executive Director of the foundation, Mr Benson Olugbuo,spoke in Abuja at the official unveiling of the foundation’s report on the 2019 general elections.
He said that it was important that the electoral body revised the code of conduct for political parties and place greater emphasis on punishing those that do not adhere to it.
Olugbuo recommended early planning and training of INEC’s staff and ad-hoc staff as well as greater security arrangements for corp members deployed to volatile areas during elections.
He added that the use of smart card readers must be made compulsory nationwide to ensure credibility of elections.
“All problems associated with smart card readers must be rectified as non-use of it undermines credibility of elections.
“INEC should also improve the process of collection of the permanent voters card, while security institutions should ensure prompt payment of its officers deployed on election duties,’’ he said.
In his remarks, Chairman, Board of Directors of the foundation, Prof. Etannibi Alemika,said that the judiciary, media organisations, security agencies and the electoral body must work hard for the success of the elections.
He also charged the National Orientation Agency to carry out adequate voter education before, during and after elections.