TheCable

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is working hard to curb the new trend of digital vote buying.

The commission said as part of strategies to influence voters, politicians transfer money electronically ahead of elections.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, spoke at a meeting with traditional rulers in Akure, the Ondo state capital, ahead of the October 10 governorship election.

“We can only handle or attempt to solve this problem, while it happens at the polling unit level,” he said.

“But when it happens outside the polling unit, it is difficult to track the perpetrators now that we are aware that vote buying has gone digital.

“They now transfer money electronically ahead of the election, no longer during the election. So, we will continue to do whatever we can to ensure that people don’t buy votes at the polling units.”

The INEC boss also assured the people of Akure that the commission will ensure that electoral materials are deployed early in the riverine areas, while polling units will be opened early enough.

“Just yesterday, we discovered that between Ese-Odo and Ilaje, we have 270 polling units that are riverine areas. So, we have to quickly mobilise the boats and to get the results out early.

“The last time we have the support that we need, because the boats that we use to move materials and to bring results back, have no headlights, so, they are hardly used at night, but the Navy provided support because their boats have illumination. Fortunately, the law empowers the commission to seek the support of the military in moving materials to locations.”

Yakubu said the commission has considered the challenges it encountered in Edo election and is working to ensure that the Ondo election is better.