BY OGONNAYA UMEHAM, ABUJA
Ahead of 2023 General Elections, the New Nigeria Dream Initiative (NNDI) has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to take the fight against vote buying seriously .
NNDI , an offshoot of New Dream for Grassroot Development (NDGD) urged INEC to impress it on the political parties so that the electorates would not loss faith in the process.
The National Co-ordinator New Nigeria Dream Initiative (NNDI), Dr Breakforth Onwubuya made the call after they observed the just-concluded governorship elections in Ekiti State.
According to him, during the election, voters were induced with money to sell their votes.
The same he explained further happened during the last Presidential Primaries where delegates were induced with foreign currency to sell their votes.
Adding that vote buying is an offence punishable under the Article 130 of the Electoral Act 2020 as amended.
The NNDI Boss, Dr Onwubuya, frowned at reports of vote buying, and tasked the INEC to wake up to their Constitutional role pointing out that Vote buying is undemocratic and must be discouraged ahead of the 2023 general elections if the elections must be free, fair and rated credible.
He therefore, called on INEC to collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and other relevant graft authorities to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for vote buying so as to give Voters hope that their Votes would count.
He noted that over 46million members of NNDI, spread across the 8806 wards have been massively educated to shun all forms of money inducement during the election.
“As doing this will amount to selling their future and that of their children. I make bold to declare that none of my members will accept Kobo from any politician but vote purely on merit those deserving”, he concluded.