The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has said one-year imprisonment or a fine of N500,000 awaits anyone found guilty of buying votes during the 2023 elections.


The INEC Commissioner in Jigawa State, Professor Muhammad Lawal Bashar said this in an interview with newsmen.

The Commissioner said the electoral commission is prepared to conduct all the elections with the BVAS machine to ensure free and fair elections.

” The machine will identify voters going to vote and those who have registered more than once will not be able to vote.

Professor Muhammad said the Commission has received over one hundred and fifty-six permanent voter cards which are still under distribution until 22 January 2023.

He advised those who have registered but have not collected their voter cards to do so before the closing date.

The Commissioner added that the agency made a good plan that will allow the people with special needs, the elderly and pregnant women to vote easily.

Racoon:
Pls INEC should work in conjuction with the NASS to get it legislated upon up to death sentence level.

Aufbauh:
Vote buying by giving out stipend or handouts to voters on election day isn't as effective as the impact of political structure.

For me the structural influence of politicians is the big deal.
Political structure as it is always mouthed is not just the numbers of people, but the influence of key political players on their constituent voters.

The leader of one of the political parties in my district once brag to me that no politician can win his party candidate in his ward even if the politician is giving voters 20k on election day.

I then probe further to know why and he told me that he has had a strong hold on his constituents over the time by reaching out to their need in terms of their children school fees, house rent, food stuff, job opportunity etc in time of their pressing need.

He said such people can't deviate from his instruction. He further stated that he has been practicing politics since the 2nd republic, and the key decision on voters direction is made in the night to the election day.
He gathers heads of households, entertain them, then tell them their collective direction on election day.

I then asked him why should they comply with his instruction, and he said few will deviate but majority will comply knowing fully well that if his candidate fail then his livelihood will be affected. And if their helper is affected then consequently their help too will be affected.