From David Onuoja, Abuja
The new Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has charged all the Security Agencies covering Anambra governorship election to ensure all forms of vote buying should be halted, in order to give a new era of election credibility.
He stated this while holding a quarterly Consultative meeting with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Security (ICCES), in Abuja.
The INEC boss said, security agents cannot afford to create an environment that allows vote buyers to operate during the Anambra election. “Together, let us combat vote buying, uphold the values of democracy and work relentlessly for the credibility of our elections. The path ahead may be challenging, but if we stand united, there is nothing we cannot achieve.”
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According to him, “We would like to warn that any attempt to induce voters before or during the Anambra election must be resisted and curtailed. We must join hands to combat the menace of vote buying. The Commission is pleased with our collaboration with law enforcement agencies, especially the anti-graft agencies, to stop vote buyers from contaminating our electoral process.
“The Anambra election must aim for better coordination, and I charge everyone going for the election to work tirelessly towards this goal.
“We plan to deploy 24,000 personnel. Our mandate is to conduct credible elections, and we are determined that no eligible voter should be disenfranchised.
“Our mission remains ensuring that every logistical, security, and operational element required for the Anambra election is perfectly in place.
“To achieve this synergy among all security agencies is non-negotiable, particularly at a time when the credibility of our elections is paramount. We have also concluded arrangements with the transport Unions- (National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Maritime Union Workers of Nigeria (MUWN) and have hired 200 Buses and 83 Boats to ensure seamless transportation of poll officers and sensitive materials”, Amupitan added.
