Vote buying: INEC secures conviction of suspect
The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced conviction of one suspect arrested for vote-buying during the 2019 general election.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu made the disclosure during a quarterly consultative meeting with political parties held at the electoral institute, Abuja.
Professor Yakubu said the feat was achieved through collaboration between the commission and the economic and financial crimes commission.
The INEC chairman was elated that conviction was secured after some politicians defied the no vote-buying and selling orders of the commission.
He said such orders would also be applied in the coming gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.
Professor Yakubu was however interested in political parties’ admonition of their members to shun violence, vote-buying among other electoral malpractices.
Professor Yakubu confirmed that the senatorial reelection in Kogi west would hold simultaneously.
He said the date will enable the commission to spend only ten million Naira instead of three hundred million Naira.
The INEC chairman said the commission is now ready to conduct the November 16 elections in both Bayelsa and Kogi states as ten out of the fourteen activities towards the polls have been concluded.
Chairman of the interparty Advisory committee, Peter Ameh reiterated the importance of the committees saying they will always collaborate with INEC to achieve a better electoral system.
Ameh also dismissed alleged plans by the senate to delist non-performing political parties saying the senate has no jurisdiction to do so.
Representatives of sixty-three political parties attended the quarterly meeting.