Transparency International, SERAP speak on alleged vote-buying in Ekiti election

Anti-corruption monitor, Transparency International, TI, Transparency International has reacted to allegations of Vote-buying by the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP during Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

DAILY POST recalls that PDP on Monday constituted a legal committee to look into all the legal issues surrounding the conduct of the Ekiti governorship election.

This is part of its preparation to challenge the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

However, condemning the alleged monetisation of votes, TI said that vote-buying could affect the credibility of the election and endanger the country’s democracy.

The Head of TI Nigeria, Musa Rafsanjani, in an interview with Punch said, “There have been allegations against both parties (the APC and the PDP) of financial inducements of voters. This is a very fundamental problem of the electoral system in the country which political parties and politicians have promoted. This will affect the credibility of the elections.

“This allegation is not peculiar to only these parties; it is done by all the political parties. The electorate must not allow themselves to be used for money politics.

“The truth of the matter is that Ekiti election started with a lot of uncertainties. There was a lot of insensible politics which made the runoff to the election look like a war.”

Also, the Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project, SERAP in a statement by its Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said the monetization of the electoral process had been in the country for a long time, calling for an end to the act.

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