The chairman of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu
in no uncertain terms warned against vote buying
in the forthcoming election in Bayelsa state.
Yakubu stated this during the commission’s
meeting with Bayelsa traditional rulers on
Tuesday, Yakubu described vote buying as selling
Nigeria’s democracy in the open market.
Nigeria’s elections have always been marred by
vote buying, from state governorship elections to
the recent general election.
At the meeting held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state
capital, Yakubu said vote buying is one of the
major challenges the commission faces during
elections in the state.
He said:
“Our first concern is the actions and
utterances that are likely to lead to the breach of
peace during the campaign, during voting on
election day and during the collation of results.
“Another challenge is the recurring problem of
vote buying. Our democracy cannot be on sale
on the open market; citizens should be allowed
to choose whoever they wish to vote for on
election day without inducement.
“We are confident that with your support, we will
continue to stem this ugly trend of vote buying at
polling units on election day.
“We shall maintain our neutrality as umpires;
INEC is not a political party. INEC has no
candidate in the governorship election. The
choice of who becomes the next governor rests
entirely in the hands of the people of Bayelsa
state.”
Young-po Reporters 