SERAP to INEC: Prosecute perpetrators of vote buying in Ekiti
Four days after the Ekiti state gubernatorial elections, a non governmental organisation, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to investigate allegations of vote buying by both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during last Saturday’s governorship election in the state with a view to bring perpetrators to book.
The group asked the electoral umpire to collaborate with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in any such investigation.
SERAP also urged INEC to “prosecute anyone suspected to be involved and/or complicit in the alleged vote buying, if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence of electoral bribery and abuse of the electoral and democratic process against them.”
The organisation requested Professor Yakubu to “take steps within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will institute legal proceedings to compel you and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to discharge your constitutional and statutory responsibilities in the public interest.”
In the letter dated 17 July 2018 and signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said, “It is the responsibility of INEC as an independent body to take meaningful steps and action to minimise electoral bribery by politicians, ensure political equality and prevent unfair electoral competition.
No body politic worthy of being called a democracy entrusts the selection of leaders to a process of auction or barter.”
The letter copied to both the ICPC and the EFCC read in part: “Investigating the allegations and prosecuting all those suspected to be involved would indicate your agencies’ willingness to exert your authorities and act as a deterrent against breaches of the electoral process, Nigeria’s anti-corruption legislation and international standards.”
“SERAP therefore urges you to carry out investigation and prosecution of vote buying in Ekiti election but also in the elections in Anambra State, Edo State and Ondo State.
“Specifically, the alleged giving of N3,000 or N5,000 to voters during the Ekiti election or payment into the bank accounts of voters is corruptly intended, and clearly aimed to influence their choice of candidates and voting intention.
“Further, vote buying gives wealthy politicians an advantage in election campaigns and outcome greater than what they already possess, and it biases political decisions in favour of the wealthy.
When politicians buy votes from the poor, political equality will suffer. Thus, economic disparities will translate into political disparities in the election of candidates.”
“SERAP is seriously concerned that vote buying undermines the ability of INEC to discharge its responsibilities under Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and paragraph 15(a) of the third schedule of the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.”
