Katsina bye-election: INEC, EFCC declare war on vote buying

TRACKING_____The Katsina State branch of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in charge of Katsina, Kano, and Jigawa, have jointly pledged to tackle vote-buying in the forthcoming Katsina state constituency by-election slated to hold October 31and also to rid the zone of the menace during elections.

In addition, the EFCC also promised to checkmate the financial expenses of Political parties during elections.

The EFCC Zonal Director, Sanusi Mohammed, who made the declaration after visiting the Katsina State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Jibril Zarewa, on a familiarization visit, said the commission is saddled with the responsibility of improving the electoral processes in the country and will ensure all forms of financial expenses are checkmated for a credible election to take place

He said, “EFCC will discharge it’s duties within the ambits of the law and will present itself during any election and whenever INEC requires its presence.”

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, in his response, described the incorporation of EFCC into the inter-agency consultative committee on security as timely saying all arms must be on deck in ensuring the smooth electoral process.

In a related development, the REC, Alhaji Jibrin Zarewa has warned the 16 political parties and eligible voters participating in the coming bye-election to comply with all Covid-19 protocols as well as all the rules and regulations concerning the conduct of the exercise warning that any contravening of the relevant electoral laws will attract reasonable sanctions

Zarewa who was speaking at the stakeholders meeting on the forthcoming bye-election in Bakori state constituency, further warned that the electoral umpire is not taking anything to chance including the issue of security during the elections

He said ’’indeed this bye-election and thirteen others are coming at a time when Nigeria is battling with the COVID-19 pandemic; it has therefore become imperative for electoral management bodies like INEC to fashion out policies that would enable the conduct elections under such circumstance in other to satisfy constitutional requirements’’

‘’We expect political parties and their agents to abide by the dos and don’ts expected of them during the election as agents, their peaceful conduct is sacrosanct and should not take steps to disrupt the election.”