The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated its commitment to address the negative role of money in the nation’s electioneering process.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who spoke in Abuja during the stakeholders summit on addressing the influence of money in the 2023 elections, noted that election is not a business venture for profit.
Yakubu lamented the activities of money bags whom he noted were desperate to compromise the will of the people at every election cycle.
The electoral umpire assured that in collaboration with security agencies, the Commission would do everything possible to ensure that money would not be used to subvert the will of the people in the 2023 general election.
The Commission however reiterated its ban on the use of smartphones at voting cubicles while participating in the forthcoming general election.
On his part the The Director General of National Broadcaster Commission(NBC), Balarabe Ilelah read the riot act to broadcast stations, warning them to desist from being used by politicians to promote divisive tendencies.
Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba who was represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Operations, Bala Ciroma, promised that the police will deploy more operatives to ensure that politicians who go around with tons of money to sway the conscience of voters are arrested.
“Let me state again emphatically that the use of money during the 2023 General Election is unacceptable and we will do all we can within the confines of the law to bring offending persons to book”, IGP Alkali warned.
The Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yabagi Sani expressed concerns over the actions of some political actors who according to him are bent on subverting the electoral provisions by engaging in corrupt practices.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, represented by his Chief of Staff, Hajia Hadiza Gamawa, insisted that vulnerable Nigerians who sell their votes sell their future because they lack the right to demand for good governance.
He called for collaboration from other stakeholders in order to identify the likely sources of funds used in vote buying during elections, this according to the INEC Boss is the definition of an approach to monitor funds from these sources, including financial institutions, Bureau De Change, Whistle blowers.
The one day stakeholders summit that had representatives of EFCC, ICPC, IPAC, NPF, NBC, ARCON and the NFIU in attendance, seeks to identify the deleterious influence of money in elections and garner support in partnership with relevant institutions to tackle the challenge of monetarized elections.
