the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has identified vote buying and insecurity as some of its main concerns ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Osun.
Speaking on Saturday about INEC’s preparation for the elections, Commission Chairman Mahmood Yakubu said there are plans to register a smooth election in the state.
The poll, set for July 16, is one of eight out-of-cycle gubernatorial elections in Nigeria.
With the improved performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), among other technical successes recorded during the just-concluded Ekiti survey, Mr. Yakubu said he hopes to replicate similar feats in Osun.
However, he raised concerns about security and vote buying, two major recurrences that have continued to undermine Nigeria’s electoral process.
“Based on the experience of the recent gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State, the Commission is closely monitoring the security situation in Osun State. Although it is generally quiet at the moment, we are concerned about reports of clashes in some places. In a recent example, Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection was disrupted in the Erin Oke and Erin Ijesha wards of the Oriade Local Government Area, resulting in the loss of 46 PVCs.
“While the police are investigating the matter, the collection of PVC for the affected wards is now taking place at the INEC office in Ijebu-Jesha. In the meantime, the state office has compiled the Voter Identification Numbers (VINs) for the cards and the Commission has already reprinted the PVCs for affected voters.
“I would like to assure all valid registrants in Osun State that no one will be disenfranchised because of such an incident. It is useless for someone to try to vote using someone else’s PVC. The biometric accreditation of the BVAS will expose said fraud and the people apprehended will be prosecuted according to the law”, said the INEC president at a meeting of the inter-institutional advisory committee on electoral security.
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Mr. Yakubu further said: “Once again, based on experience in recent elections, vote buying remains a major area of concern. We appreciate the role played by anti-corruption and security agencies in arresting some of the perpetrators of this brazen attack on our democracy. In particular, we are working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure the prosecution of those arrested in the recent Ekiti gubernatorial election. Action will begin as soon as the EFCC completes its investigation. I call on all security agencies to continue to work with the Commission to tackle this threat,” added Mr Yakubu.
A representative of the National Security Advisor (NSA), Sanusi Galadima, applauded INEC’s feat in the Ekiti poll but urged the commission to double down on the next Osun poll.
Contrary to the commission’s concerns, Galadima said there were no major security concerns during and after the Ekiti survey.
He called on the residents of Osun state to come out en masse to participate in the poll for governor.
“As a consequence of the above, the NSA directed the INEC, through the Voter Education/Advertising Department, to redouble efforts ahead of the Osun State gubernatorial election and the upcoming general election in 2023.
“The NSA also urged ICCES members to build on the successes recorded in the Ekiti elections, as some disgruntled politicians may seek to sabotage the process for their selfish gains, through vote buying and other forms of voter incentives, as well as political bullying,” the NSA said. the chief’s representative pointed out.