The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute all those who were arrested on allegations of vote-buying in the course of the Ekiti State governorship election.
SERAP in a short tweet which was sighted by Africa Daily News, New York on Sunday morning stated that the prosecution must not end with those caught in the act, but must be extended to the politicians who fund their election malpractice.
The group’s reaction comes on the heels of the reports of vote-buyers being arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during the polls.
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Parading some of the suspects at the Oke Ori Omi Area Division of the Nigerian Police Force, the authorities said the individuals were caught with monies allegedly used to induce voters, an act the EFCC officials say were carried out surreptitiously.
While the polls were relatively peaceful, observers say they witnessed massive vote buying and selling.
One of such groups that testified to this was the Campaign for Equal Voting Access for Persons with Disabilities (EVAPWD), a program of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).
According to the body, its observers witnessed massive vote buying and selling, particularly in “Polling Unit (PU) 001, Ward 10, Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA, PU 002, Ward 10, Odo-Oye/Ayedun 1, Gbonyi LGA, and PU 039, Ward 11, Ado-Ekiti LGA”.
In a communique signed by its chairman, David O. Anyaele which was made available to reporters, the group however, noted that it is impressed to observe that marginalized populations – the aged, nursing mothers and pregnant women and persons with disabilities were offered priority voting in most of the polling units observed.
