Don’t sell your votes, be smart, IPAC warns electorates

Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), on Monday warned electorates not to sell their votes, but urged them to vote wisely to elect their preferred candidates in the general elections. IPAC said it has long before now embarked on public awareness on voters education with the aim to sensitize electorate on vote buying and the danger it posses to good governance. Speaking in Jos, the Plateau state capital, during its North Central rally, the National Secretary IPAC, Aye Georgina Dakpokpo said the organisation is embarking on a road show to further sensitise and caution the public on the ills and gains of doing the right thing with their PVCs. Dakpokpo said the public awareness is designed to complement the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), effort in conducting successful elections nationwide. “This patriotic programme will highlight IPACs campaign of championing the eradication of electoral violence and other vestiges of electoral malfeasance and the nefarious vote buying/selling syndrome across the country. “This will be another milestone and contribution of IPAC to advancing democracy in Nigeria. “We must be aptly reminded that the political ambition of any Nigerian is not worth the blood of any fellow Nigerian or by extension the destruction of properties, age long inter ethnic and inter religious harmony among Nigerians, or the erosion of elementary and primary friendship among Nigerian families. “Vote buying undermines the electoral process, poses serious threat to democracy and credibility of elections: it is earning a bad reputation for our democracy, for our elections and the future of the county”, Dakpokpo said.