Alleged suspects: Muriat Olalekan, 61,Hamzat Muniru,65 and Adeagbo Wasiu.
BY TAIWO FAROTIMI
- Much as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC tried to discourage the novel sharp practice of vote buying at the polling stations politicians in the Saturday election in Osun State appear to have outwitted the Commission.
Reports from the state indicate that party agents stayed away from the prying eyes of security operatives to monitor and compromise voters. Luck however ran out for some of such dubious agents. The police in some places arrested agents who were caught with huge amount of money as they lure voters to some corner with the intention of giving them gratification.
For instance, someone was arrested in Osogbo, the state capital with over N116, 000 with which he intended to influence voters in favour of his party. Security had also got two people with about N164,000 loaded in a sack as they attempted to woo voters with it.
But in some wards around the state security operatives looked the other way while the exercise was going on. For example, in Iragbiji there are reports that some people shared money at the polling station , though they told the beneficiaries that it was not meant to influence them, but just for them to “find something to eat.”
So who are the people behind the practice? The Crest learnt that almost all the major parties are guilty of the practice. Interestingly politicians on all sides blame opponents for the act. In particular, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC have traded blames on the practice. Reports and charges by the police after the polls may likely reveal which party is most guilty.
As the election drew close INEC had announced that voters would not be allowed to take their telephone into the polling booth. That was to prevent a situation where voters will take photos of the ballot paper so as to show the party agents who will then compensate the voter. This step and the secrecy grab ed by the polling booths provided drastically reduced direct influence and payment for votes. But politicians found a way round the steps adopted by INEC.
That is why Fatai Akinbade, candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC said vote buying was the blemish on the conduct of the election. He is probably right, because as he said the issues of violence and ballot box snatching were not predominant at the election.