Aernan Lubem
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, says lack of capacity and expertise has slowed down the commission’s efforts to tackle vote-buying and other electoral offences in Nigeria.
He stated this in Lagos at the commission’s retreat on the Ekiti and Osun off-cycle governorship elections noting that vote-buying, legitimacy crises, violence, and other electoral frauds has characterized elections across Nigeria in the last two decades.
Pundits say the trend has hindered credible candidates from winning elections and scared away those with genuine intention to serve the country.
A recent study revealed that as of 2019, 24 per cent of male and 19 per cent of female respondents said they were offered money or non-monetary favors in exchange for their votes in state and national elections.
Speaking earlier, the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje said timely production of Permanent Voter Card (PVCs) to enable registered voters across the country to collect their cards was necessary for adequate preparation for next year’s elections.
The retreat was attended by INEC RECs across the country and some of the commission’s partners.
