Osun Election: ICPC deploys operatives to 30 LGs, warns against vote buying

Nigeria's Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is deploying operatives across all 30 local government areas of Osun State to monitor the upcoming August 15 governorship election. The commission's primary objective is to tackle and eradicate vote buying. Yusuf Olatunji, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for Osun State, announced these plans during a street rally in Osogbo aimed at sensitizing residents against electoral corruption.

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We are out here to let the people of the state know that vote buying is a crime under Nigerian law. From the ICPC, we will not tolerate vote buying or selling, and anybody culpable will be arrested and prosecuted.

The rally, which included corps members, officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other stakeholders, traversed key areas of Osogbo. Participants distributed fliers and used major Nigerian languages to educate the public on the illegality and dangers of vote trading. Olatunji emphasized that vote buying is a crime under Nigerian law and that the ICPC will not tolerate it. "Anybody culpable will be arrested and prosecuted," he stated.

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Vote buying and vote selling may appear to offer temporary financial relief, but they inflict lasting damage on our democracy. When votes become commodities, leadership becomes a transaction rather than a mandate.

Olatunji urged voters to reject any form of electoral corruption, particularly vote buying and selling, to protect the integrity of the electoral process. He warned that while exchanging votes for money might offer short-term financial relief, it inflicts long-term damage on democracy by transforming leadership into a transaction rather than a public mandate. The consequences of such corruption, he noted, include poor governance, unfulfilled promises, inadequate infrastructure, insecurity, unemployment, and declining public confidence in democratic institutions. The ICPC official stressed the importance of voters considering the long-term impact of their choices, stating that money exchanged for votes ultimately leads to detrimental outcomes for the nation.

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The Commission has made adequate arrangements to deploy our personnel to all the 30 local governments to monitor the election to ensure that vote buying is eradicated.