The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC in conjunction with Youth Alive Foundation have warned against all forms of vote buying and other electoral malpractice which could likely come up in the 2019, general elections in Akwa Ibom State.
This was stated in a communique issued on Monday at the end of a one-day campaign program organised by the bodies meant to sensitise the public about the dangers of vote buying and other electoral violence in the country.
The meeting which had in attendance participants drawn from Political Parties, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Religious and Traditional institutions, National Orientation Agency (NOA),Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), the Media, Community Development Associations (CDAs), professional bodies, women and youth leaders in Akwa Ibom State, ICPC Abuja and zonal office described vote buying as an aberration to democratic process, therefore should be condemned and avoided.
The communique read that vote selling in a democratic process will not only make the electorates to vote the wrong candidate but would eventually lead to the enthronement of bad or corrupt leaders
The communique which urged the electorates not to vote for candidates based on monetary gain but for good leadership for a sustained democracy said when the electorates sell their vote, they sell their conscience, moral, voice and imposes an unpopular or bad leader on the whole community.
They therefore called on CSOs and other stakeholders to put more effort in sensitising the grassroots on the dangers of vote buying and other electoral malpractices.
“Vote buying will make government representatives unwilling to be accountable and to produce economic well-being because the master-agent relationship would disappear.
“If the electorates reject the money brought by politicians to buy their votes, the politicians will not force them, instead, they will sit up in their work knowing that the electorates are not interested in money but credibility.
“this campaign against vote buying and other electoral malpractice should not be limited to Uyo and other capital cities, it should be extended to the grassroots so that no one is left behind.” they said.
They maintained that no official of the state should retain his/her security details during election, insisting that they should all be withdrawn
To give force to the resolutions, the stakeholders said that election offences court or tribunal should be strengthened and practically independent to handle election related cases.
“Vote buying and electoral malpractice is corruption. For us to have a corrupt free Nigeria, we should resist and reject corruption”
“Vote buying is an indication that INEC is working. There are no more ballot box snatching thus, politicians resort to negotiate with the electorates.” the communique read.
