Politics
INEC Chairman Speaks On Vote Buying
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has described votes buying as “cancer” to Nigeria’s electoral process.
Yakubu stated this on Thursday at the presentation of certificates to 21 out of the 23 newly registered political parties in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
“Votes buying is cancer to our elections that we must work together collectively to stamp out,” he said.
According to the INEC boss, the commission is deeply worried about a situation whereby political agents woo voters with cash during elections; a development local observers said characterised the Ekiti Governorship polls on July 14.
In view of its negative effect of vote buying on the electoral process, Professor Yakubu said he was committed to curbing it.
He vowed that INEC would not tolerate vote buying in the forthcoming Osun State governorship exercise slated for September 22, 2018.
In doing this, the electoral umpire will collaborate with security agencies in identifying, arresting and prosecuting both givers and receivers of cash inducement in the election.
He said, “On the part of the commission, starting with the Osun State governorship election coming up on September 22. We will change the way our polling units are administered such that there will be no room for voters to expose their marked ballot papers between the voting cubicles and the ballot boxes.
“We shall further strategise with the security agencies for a more robust response to the arrest and prosecution of vote buyers. We will also engage with all well-meaning groups for more effective voter education and voter sensitisation.”
Anonymous
August 18, 2018 at 2:35 am
Boju boju oo. Oloro mbo oo. Oga Yakubu, i like your game. So you new there was vote buying in Ekiti elections and in the recent elections in Bauchi and in Akwa- ibom and you didn’t do anything and now you just woke up from slumber to tell us that vote buying is illegal. Boju boju o. Oga Yakubu mbo o! Futur elections shall be vote buying free Isha allah. Afterall INEC budget has taken care of all INEC staff including election under table allowances!
Anonymous
August 17, 2018 at 4:32 pm
Sanction any part that involed including your staff
Anonymous
August 17, 2018 at 2:23 pm
The situation makes one blamed been born in a country like Nigeria where people called umpire are pretenders hypocrites . What do you expect from them conspired results
Anonymous
August 17, 2018 at 2:00 pm
INEC man you’re working for Oga on top
Anonymous
August 17, 2018 at 1:55 pm
The achievements of all the presidents that have ruled us since 1999.
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Chief Dr Olusegun Obasanjo:
1. Establishment of EFCC, ICPC and also strengthened the code of conduct bureau. Through this, Tafa Balogun, Bode George, others were jailed.
2. Foreign reserve when OBJ came into power was just $2b. When he was leaving office, it increased to a whopping $43b.
3. He secured an $18b debt profile from the Paris and London clubs and got Nigeria free of debt.
4. OBJ brought in GSM which is arguably the greatest achievement by any Nigerian leader.
5. He established the Civil Defence.
6. He ensured the dramatic development of Abuja with the Abuja Masterplan.
7. He launched Nigeria’s first satellite in space which ensured good internet and mobile communication.
8. The price of petroleum per litre when he left office was N75
9. Open University was also established.
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The Achievements of late Yar’Adua:
1. The first president to publicly declare his assets initiated the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme that sent hundreds of youths abroad for studies and professional training.
2. He recommended the dredging of the River Niger after 40 years.
3. He released the N10b Lagos LG funds withheld by his predecessor.
4. He increased minimum wage, Armed Forces salary, NYSC allowances, police and paramilitary salaries.
5. Under his watch, the courts regained their freedom. They handed down verdicts that cancelled political victories even though his party PDP was the victim.
6. He completed 13 of major highway works he inherited from his predecessor.
7. He initiated the Abuja-Kaduna rail route, Abuja-Kano rail and Abuja Metro Line.
8. Electoral reform was initiated.
9. He demanded unspent funds be returned to national treasury by all MDAs.
10. Contracts awarded for rehabilitation and construction of 34 federal highways.
11. He reduced the price of petroleum per litre to N65. These he achieved in just two years.
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The Achievements of Dr Jonathan:
1. Promotion and practice of true democracy, conduct of free and and fair elections including the 2011 which was adjudged to be the most credible ever.
2. Relative non-interference with electoral and judicial matters. This is evident in the number of governorship elections won both at the polls and in the court by the opposition parties in Anambra, Imo, Osun states etc.
3. Liberalization of the Press and guaranteeing the freedom of speech.
4. Opening up of Nigeria to the global business community and becoming Africa’s number one destination of foreign investors and making Nigeria the largest economy in Africa.
5. Initiation of the YOUWIN program in 2011. Also, under him, we became the largest producer of cassava in the world.
6. Establishment of 12 federal universities including the one in Buhari’s state.
7. He’s the one behind the revival of the dead automotive industry in Nigeria. INNOSON Motors, Peugeot, Nissan, Hyundai will forever be grateful to him.
8. Construction of Enugu-Abakaliki, Enugu-PH, Lagos-Benin, Abuja-Lokoja, Onitsha-Owerri roads.
9. Revival of the comatose railway system and remodelling, beautification and standardization of airports across the country.
10. Computerizing education with the introduction of Computer Based Test (CBT) for all UTME candidates.
11. Introduction of the Almajiri System of Education in the academically disadvantaged Northern part of the country.
12. Introduction of PVC, BVN, TSA and Whistle Blowing. He pegged the price of petroleum per litre at N87 when he left office.
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Note that these three presidents all followed the federal character principle strictly and prices of goods and services were affordable.
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Below are the achievements of Buhari so far:
1. Flagrant disregard to rule of law and disobedience to Court orders.
2. Introduction of nepotism, lopsided appointments, denial of campaign promises, tribalism etc.
3. Appointment of dead people as board chairmen without knowing.
4. Defending and supporting the killer herdsmen.
5. Frequent foreign trips at the expense of the masses.
6. Witch-hunt of perceived political enemies.
7. Claiming Abacha never looted even after receiving over 1.1b dollars of Abacha loot from Switzerland alone.
8. Signing of autonomy bill for state assemblies and state judiciaries.
9. Blaming past governments for his ineptitude, inefficiency and woes.
10. Giving preferential treatment to his kinsmen at the expense of other tribes.
11. Commissioning already commissioned projects by Jonathan.
12. Commissioning of mangoes in Jigawa.
13. Payment of fuel subsidy even after accusing Jonathan of the offence, calling it a fraud.
14. Pegging the petroleum price at N145 per litre.
15. Under his watch, over 9million Nigerians lost their jobs and over a thousand companies have either folded up or relocated to other countries.
16. Under his watch, Nigeria became the poverty capital of the world.
17. Under his watch, Nigeria became the most dangerous country for us to live in.
18. Protecting and Shielding his corrupt allies and cronies from investigation.
Ordinary amendment to electoral act to improve and strengthen elections, buhari doesn’t want to sign it.