——-IPAC Holds Political Stakeholders Workshop Against Vote Buying, Election Violence
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun, Dr Mutiu Agboke has emphasized that Vote buying is a threat to Nigeria democracy.
Agboke made disclosure while speaking at a 2-day workshop organized by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) for political stakeholders in Osun State to discuss strategies for preventing vote buying and promoting democratic values.
ADULAWO NEWS report that the move is part of IPAC’s efforts to promote a free, fair, and credible electoral environment in Osun State.
According to Agboke, Vote buying undermines the integrity of the electoral process and can have far-reaching consequences for the country.
On his part, the IPAC Chairman in Osun State, Victor Akande has urged political parties to shun election violence ahead of the upcoming Local Government Election in the State.
He emphasized the importance of educating citizens about the dangers of vote buying and the need for them to make informed decisions at the polls.
Speaking, the guest speaker, Dr. Segun Odewole said vote buying has affected the true elections process in Nigeria.
Odewole said”Vote buying erodes the democratic values of our country,” said Dr. Adekunle Owolabi, a political analyst at the University of Ibadan. “It turns elections into a competition of cash rather than ideas, and undermines the integrity of our electoral system.”
“Furthermore, vote buying has been linked to poor leadership and corruption. “Leaders who buy votes often prioritize recovering their ‘investment’ over serving the people.This leads to widespread corruption and mismanagement of public funds, which has a devastating impact on our economy and society.”
To combat vote buying, he recommended a multi-stakeholder approach, we need to educate citizens about the power of their votes and the dangers of vote buying. We also need to strengthen our electoral laws and enforcement mechanisms, and promote economic empowerment to reduce the vulnerability of citizens to financial inducements.”
He urged the electorate to play their part in protecting Nigeria’s democracy. “We must reject vote buying and promote voting based on conscience rather than financial gain,”