A human rights group, The Democrat (TD) has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), to curb electoral corruption in the forthcoming general elections in 2019.
The group also called on the National Assembly to empower INEC in the fight against electoral corruption, through prompt passage of relevant laws to check electoral fraud.
Spokesman of the group, Comrade Kehinde Ojoawo in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, said INEC and the National Assembly must collaborate with anti-graft agencies to enforce laws regulating the maximum expenditure on election and forbid all forms of material and financial inducement by money bags at party level and polling booth.
The aim of such collaboration, according to Ojoawo, was to “minimise the influence of money in 2019 general elections.”
He further urged “INEC to shun corruption and be on top of situation regarding the conduct of elections in the country.”
He expressed concern over electoral violence.
While describing violence as a threat to the credibility of elections and political participation, Ojoawo called on INEC to “tackle electoral violence by sanctioning political parties and candidates that make use of thugs in election.”
Ojoawo said “INEC must ensure proper monitoring of campaign of all the political parties and candidates. We are also calling on the electoral body to collaborate with armed forces to guarantee adequate security in the 2019 general election”.
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