The Nigerian Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Baba sent a strong warning to the politicians planning to buy votes on election days. Baba says all strategies to arrest, and prosecute those involved are put in place.
Baba stated this on Monday in Abuja at a one-day stakeholders Summit on countering the influence of Money on the 2023 General Election.
In his words: “Concerted efforts are being made by the Nigeria police as the lead agency in electoral security management to ensure that the use of money is not allowed to influence the 2023 general elections. We will ensure that at least, this menace is brought to the barest minimum."
“We will achieve this in synergy with sister security agencies, anti-graft, and intelligence agencies, and other stakeholders”, he said.
Baba, who was represented by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Operations, Bala Ciroma said a lot of arrests have been made already in the effort being made to stop any form of election malpractice in the upcoming 2023 General Elections.
“We will also ensure that the police X-Squad, intelligence officers, and investigators are moved to the field to ensure that politicians moving on election days to buy votes are apprehended and dealt with according to the provisions of the law,” Ciroma added.
Ciroma said some political thugs are already in custody and will be prosecuted in a court of law.
The AIG said: “Some politicians often use the money to sponsor restive youths who are readily available and willing to be mobilized as political thugs and to wreak mayhem on opponents and voters."
Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman, of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) described vote buying as a major obstacle to free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
“We have consistently witnessed the continuous exploitation of a large section of the society by politicians who succeed in cajoling the vulnerable electorates to trade in their votes for a paltry sum,” Bawa said.
