THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned the electorate against the act of vote-buying ahead of the Osun gubernatorial election scheduled for July 16.
In a statement issued by Kunle Ajayi, the national commissioner supervising Ogun, Ondo and Osun States, the Commission vowed to go tough with anybody caught in the act.
Ajayi’s call came against the backdrop of cases of vote-buying recorded in the gubernatorial election in Ekiti State few weeks ago.
According to the Commission, vote-buying is an onslaught on the sanctity of democracy which must be collectively discouraged.
The statement reads: “I would also like to inform the electorate that vote-buying is against the law, and any body found engaging in such an act, would be made to face the full extent of the law. Therefore, we must all work in unison to put an end to this act, in order to protect the sanctity of our democracy.”
The July 16 governorship election will be keenly contested majorly by Gboyega Oyetola, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC); Ademola Adeleke, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Yusuf Lasun, Labour Party (LP); Oyegoke Omigbodun, Social Democratic Party (SDP); and Akin Ogunniyi, Accord Party (AP).
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has issued a strong warning to anyone who plans to disrupt the election scheduled for July 16.
According to him, the Police will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone found wanting throughout the period of the exercise to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Baba gave the warning on Tuesday gave the warning at the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the electoral umpire in Osogbo, the state capital.
He also said 21,000 security personnel have been deployed for the governorship election.
This deployment, according to the IGP, is not meant to intimidate law-abiding citizens, but tame undemocratic moves.
He assured eligible voters to go out and exercise their franchise without fear, saying the 332 wards of the 30 local government areas of the state would be well-secured.
Also speaking at the event, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, appealed to the candidates to desist from inducing voters and avoid being led by their desperation.
The traditional ruler is confident that the election will be peaceful and worth the efforts by relevant agencies towards its success.
