Ekiti election: SERAP gives INEC 1 week ultimatum to probe, prosecute vote buyers, sponsors

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence the probe of financial inducements during the Ekiti gubernatorial election.

The organization has via a letter given the chairman of the electoral body, Professor Mahmood Yakubu an ultimatum of one-week to start the probe.

The group has charged the electoral commission to get information about vote-buying, and several other electoral malpractices.

The group has also called for the prosecution of those arrested and their sponsors.

Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director SERAP, revealed that rich candidates and their sponsors should not be allowed to profit from their crimes.

He noted that electoral malpractices have become order of the day in Nigeria, as perpetrators hardly meet justice.

“If voting is as important as INEC always claims it is, now is the time to end the buying of democracy by wealthy politicians and their sponsors”, the letter reads.

“Agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) were reportedly involved in buying votes across the state.

“According to reports, agents of the three parties in Ward 007, PU 001, Ado LGA offered voters as high as N10,000 in exchange for their votes.

“There are also several reports of ballot box snatching, including in polling units with codes 13/05/06/005 and 007 in Ilawe Ward IV, near St. Patrick’s School.”

The group that demanded that the electoral commission take necessary steps within seven days, has threatened legal action if nothing is done.

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