CJID demands prosecution of ‘vote buyers’ in Anambra election

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) says observers deployed across Anambra for the state governorship election have documented incidents of vote buying and voter inducement.

In a report by the media think tank, there were reports of harassment of journalists covering the polls which raised serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

CJID said observers recorded vote buying in several polling units, including Anambra east (RA 13 PU 6; RA 14 PU 12; Umuleri PU 13), Ihiala (RA 18 PUs 01 & 07), Onitsha north (RA 8 PU 7), and Orumba north (RA 17 PU 20; RA 02 PUs 12, 13, 14).

The organisation said this development contravened the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 which prohibits such practices.

CJID said that section 127(a) of the Electoral Act criminalises the act of giving money or inducements to influence voting, while section 127(b) penalises voters who accept such bribes.

The media development called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to intensify efforts to arrest and prosecute offenders promptly and impartially, adding that failure to do so risks further eroding public trust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

CJID reiterated its call for the establishment of an independent electoral offences commission, as recommended by the Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Committee, to ensure timely and effective prosecution of electoral crimes.

“Despite the clarity of these provisions, enforcement remains weak. We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in collaboration with security agencies, to immediately step up enforcement efforts and ensure that individuals, party agents, and political actors involved in vote buying are arrested and prosecuted without fear or favour. Selective enforcement or post–election inaction will only deepen distrust in the electoral system,” the report reads.

“To address the persistent challenge of electoral offences, we further reiterate the longstanding recommendation of the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Committee, which advocated the establishment of an independent Electoral Offences Commission. Such a body, separate from INEC, should be empowered with investigative and prosecutorial authority to ensure timely and impartial accountability.”