Guber poll: We’ll make vote selling, buying difficult for merchants – Osun REC

By Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

The new INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Osun State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola has disclosed that the commission will make buying and selling of votes difficult for merchants during the August 15 governorship poll in the State.

This is as she revealed that the commission registered 381, 817 new voters, saying display of registered voters is ongoing across wards for those registered to check for any complaints.

Speaking with newsmen at the Correspondents’ Chapel in Osogbo on Tuesday, she said the commission is working with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences, ICPC, to identify areas prone to election merchandise with a view to curbing the menace.

“INEC does not sell and buy vote. The sellers and the buyers are not INEC. One of the things we do is voter education and the media is helping in that direction. The political parties also have a role to play to ensure that people vote their conscience, you don’t need money to vote.

“The laws has stated it clearly, you do not need money to vote, it’s an offense for the seller and buyer, we need to keep educating the electorate that they should mortgage their future because of money, when you sell your vote, you cannot hold your leaders accountable, so we keep working.

“You know the ICPC is a member of the inter-agency on election management and they are doing a lot to curb vote merchandise. They have started their work even before the election, they are gathering intelligence and making sure they try their own best, to ensure that vote buying is reduced, and also we encourage the electorates to not sell their votes. People should know there is sanction for vote buying and selling”, she said.

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