Inec chairman wants specific offence of vote buying and selling created with three year sentence for offenders

NIGERIA'S Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) has proposed a fine of N500,000 or three years imprisonment or both for any persons convicted of vote-buying and selling in the country's elections.

Last month, Nigeria concluded presidential, National Assembly and gubernatorial elections but in many areas, the process was marred by rigging, ballot box snatching, vote buying, thuggery and over-voting. This led Inec to cancelling polling in several local government areas and organising re-runs but despite arrests being made, no one has yet been sentenced for electoral offences.

Speaking yesterday at the ninth forum of the Anti-Corruption Situation Room, organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, Inec chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said it is imperative that the National Assembly takes legislative action to tackle the menace. He added that vote-buying and selling during elections have become a huge source of worry to Inec as well as the international community.

Professor Yakubu added: “The National Assembly should isolate vote-buying and selling and properly define it. It varieties in ingredients and they should make it a separate item in the Electoral Act and provide a sanction for violation.

“The punishment for vote-buying should be increased and made stiffer to act as deterrent to buyers and sellers. Those who commit the offence of buying and selling should be made to pay a fine of N500,000 or be subjected to three years imprisonment, or both. Also, restrictions on the use of smart phones in polling units should be put into the Electoral Act and violators should be liable on conviction to a fine of N500,000 or three years imprisonment or both."