Transparency International, SERAP speak on alleged vote-buying in Ekiti election

Anti-corruption monitor, Transparency International, TI, Transparency
International has reacted to allegations of Vote-buying by the All
Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP
during Saturday's governorship election in Ekiti State.

DAILY POST recalls that PDP on Monday constituted a legal committee to
look into all the legal issues surrounding the conduct of the Ekiti
governorship election.

This is part of its preparation to challenge the results declared by
the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

However, condemning the alleged monetisation of votes, TI said that
vote-buying could affect the credibility of the election and endanger
the country's democracy.

The Head of TI Nigeria, Musa Rafsanjani, in an interview with Punch
said, "There have been allegations against both parties (the APC and
the PDP) of financial inducements of voters. This is a very
fundamental problem of the electoral system in the country which
political parties and politicians have promoted. This will affect the
credibility of the elections.

"This allegation is not peculiar to only these parties; it is done by
all the political parties. The electorate must not allow themselves to
be used for money politics.

"The truth of the matter is that Ekiti election started with a lot of
uncertainties. There was a lot of insensible politics which made the
runoff to the election look like a war."

Also, the Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project, SERAP in a
statement by its Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said the monetization of
the electoral process had been in the country for a long time, calling
for an end to the act.