An Independent National Electoral Commission official, Mustapha Abdullahi, has disclosed that the Saturday by-elections in 12 states, including Kano, Adamawa, Jigawa, and Taraba states were marred by irregularities.
The INEC Election Party Monitoring Officer, who monitored the election in Kano, made this revelation during an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH on Sunday night while also charting fresh paths to avoiding such irregularities in the region.
Abdullahi stated that “widespread reports of vote buying, with voters being offered between N10,000 and N25,000 to secure support, marred the elections.”
According to him, the irregularities were not peculiar to the North as some South West states like Ogun were also caught in the vote-buying web.
While stressing his point, he disclosed that security operatives arrested some PDP officials with large sums of money allegedly meant for vote buying in the state.
Abdullahi also explained that the elections were characterised by violence and thuggery, particularly in Kano State, where 288 suspected thugs were arrested.
Although, the All Progressives Congress has called for the cancellation of the polls, alleging armed disruptions and voter intimidation.
These, in the depositions of the INEC EPM, were some of the underlying factors contributing to the challenges of free and fair elections.
He listed the factors to include: economic hardship, lack of accountability, and inadequate security, among others.
To address these challenges and improve the electoral process, Abdullahi called for the strengthening of security measures, deploying adequate security personnel and equipment to prevent violence and disruptions to effectively reduce electral malpractices.
Other measures, according to him, include: educating voters on the importance of their vote and the dangers of vote buying to reduce electoral malpractices.
Abdullahi further pointed out, “Ensuring that electoral materials and infrastructure are secure and reliable to prevent snatching and other forms of electoral manipulation.
“Multi-faceted approach such as collaboration between government agencies, security operatives, and civil society organisations to promote free, fair, and credible elections,” he added.
He emphasised that INEC’s plan to prosecute vote buyers will serve as a deterrent to potential offenders.
“By addressing these challenges, Nigeria can improve on its electoral process and promote democratic stability,” he concluded.
