In a determined attempt to combat vote buying and ensure secure elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission and Nigeria’s security services reiterated their commitment to electoral integrity on Tuesday, ahead of important elections in 2025 and 2026.
At the first regular meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security for the year in Abuja, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu warned that vote buying remains a serious threat to Nigeria’s free and fair elections.
Yakubu stated that, while arrests have occurred in prior elections, the fight against electoral corruption must accelerate, particularly as party primaries approach.
He emphasized that vote buying is not restricted to election day, but also to party primaries, where delegates are bribed with money to affect the selection process.
With Anambra State governorship primaries scheduled for next month and Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections in June, he advised security services to take preemptive steps.
Yakubu noted, “There is obviously a lot of work to be done, particularly in combatting vote buying. The Commission is pleased with our work with law enforcement, particularly anti-graft authorities. Aside from the arrest of vote buys on election day, our aggressive collaboration has resulted in the successful prosecution of some offenders in three states of the Federation.
“As you are aware, the issue also arises during party primaries for the selection of candidates. On election day, voters are targeted at polling stations.
