Ekiti guber: Situation Room speaks on what must happen to politicians buying votes

As Ekiti voters troop to the polls tomorrow, a civil society
organization, the Situation Room, has appealed to security agencies
that would monitor the election to arrest and prosecute whoever is
seen buying votes from the electorate.

The body commended the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) and the security agencies on the peaceful and orderly manner
with which sensitive materials that would be deployed for the conduct
of the poll were distributed on Friday.

The Situation Room is a coalition comprising CSOs like the Cleen
Foundation, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Youth
Initiative for Advocacy, Police and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC),
among others.

Briefing journalist in Ado Ekiti during its first preliminary on the
Ekiti governorship election, Chairman of the coalition, Clement
Nwankwo said the menace of monetized politics should be tackled in the
country to sanitise the electoral system.

He urged security agencies to shun acts of intimidation on the day of
the election to prevent apathy, and that the 30,000 police personnel
deployed in Ekiti must be evenly spread to ensure safety cross all the
towns and villages.

"We have made recommendations to the security agencies on how to
tackle vote buying. It is a serious electoral offence that must not be
allowed in our country.

"So, our security must be up and doing and remain committed to the
success of this poll", he advised.

Nwankwo commended the security agencies for sustaining peace on the
eve of the election, describing this as a sign that the election will
be orderly and credible.

The Situation Room maintained that "the political parties must be
conduct themselves in a manner that does not encourage violence by
their supporters, as they will be held liable for their activities
that trigger violence.

"We call on the security agencies, including Army, police and other
arms to assure election observers and electorate of their personal
safety and urges voters to go out and peacefully to cast their votes
in exercise of their constitutional rights to be part of democratic
process.

"We reiterate that all elections must demonstrate the highest possible
commitment from the security services to support INEC in completing
its constitutional role of organizing credible elections that can
inspired continued public confidence."