#Politics

Osun 2022: YIAGA warns against vote-buying

By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

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Towards ensuring free, fair and credible election come July 16 governorship election in Osun State, candidates have been warned against vote buying, money inducement and other vices capable of undermining the process of the election.

To this end, it’s important that all stakeholders come together to reflect on the electoral preparation and see how best to coordinate among the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) towards ensuring free, fair, credible and transparent election in the state.

The  Manager of YIAGA, a non governmental organization advocating for credible, free and fair elections program, Mr Paul James stated this while speaking with our Correspondent in Osogbo.

“Regarding the transparency in Osun election and judging from the history of what we saw in 2018 election after the first round of voting, no clear winner and we went to the second round and some CSOs had challenge of accessing some polling unit.

“We want to see how we can get through all those challenges we experienced in the previous elections and see how we can ensure a history of a great method of electoral processes in Osun state.

“Voter education activities is part of what we do in the build up of the election. We use different election approach; in the pre-election we are trying to identify new polling units.

“One of the things we have seen in Nigeria is that we have observers in the 30 local governments in the state which we are to observe, monitor and report what happens

While asking if electorate will come out to participate in the voting exercise without fear of molestation and intimidation, Paul commended the residents of the state for their active participation in electoral process.

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“If you check INEC statistics today Osun is one the states that have the highest voters during state and federal elections.

The manager of the Organisation expressed displeasure over the rampant vote-buying among politicians during election, saying that this criminal act will soon be faced off with the introduction of technology.

“With this, politicians have understood the need to go back to the downtrodden for votes mobilization. Giving voters money is illegal, criminal and offensive and voters are indulging in this act because they don’t know the implications of their actions,” he explained

Therefore, he said the organisation has taken upon itself as part of its responsibility to educate voters on the implication of selling their votes to politicians during election and its negative effects from having good governance.

He condemned the criminal act of vote in totality and its menace among the politicians.

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Osun 2022: YIAGA warns against vote-buying

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