The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reassured political parties, candidates, and the electorate in Ekiti State, that the choice of who becomes the next governor of the State was entirely in the hands of voters.
INEC stressed that it will not take any action to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate, adding that the Commission has taken every step to ensure that the election holding this weekend, is free, fair, credible, inclusive, and safe.
Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who stated this in his address at the Ekiti Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Meeting in Ado Ekiti, said the focus of the Commission was on the processes and procedures as provided by law.
Like every conscientious Nigerian, Yakubu said the Commission was deeply worried about the use of money to induce voters on election day.
He said, “Clearly, vote buying is a threat to our electoral democracy. To discourage the practice, we changed the configuration of our polling units to bring the ballot boxes closer to the voting cubicles and also banned the use of mobile phones and photographic devices by voters while in the voting cubicles.
“We have also intensified our collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to deal with both the buyers and the takers under the law. I urge all stakeholders to join the commission in tackling the menace.”
RN