Say No to Vote Buying, EFCC Charges Electorate

Say No to Vote Buying, EFCC Charges Electorate

The Benin Zonal Head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mailafia Yakubu, has reiterated the call by the acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, for Nigerians to shun vote buying during the next general election.

Yakubu stated this on January 17, 2019 during the flag-off of the South-South Voter’s Education Campaign on Voided Votes by the National Orientation Agency, NOA held in Benin City, Edo State.

Yakubu stated that the Commission was against vote buying during elections.

“It is in line with this that the Commission organised a musical concert with the theme ‘Say No To Vote Buying’ on the 13th of January 2019 at the Unity Fountain Abuja to draw attention to the danger of vote buying. We engaged the citizenry through music, drama and comedy on the consequences of vote buying,” he said.

He stated further that in every democratic setting, it was the fundamental right of every eligible adult to perform “this civil duty of casting their votes”.

He said: “Your vote is your right. It is your legitimate right in electing those who are going to lead you for a stipulated period of time. Therefore, we encourage you to follow the right procedure and vote correctly.

“Selling your vote means you have chosen to forfeit your right for a pot of porridge. When you sell your vote you have sold your conscience and your right”, before adding the clincher “it is a criminal offence as it is viewed as bribery and corruption”.

The acting State Director of NOA, Grace Ewere Eseka, said the programme was part of efforts to enlighten members of the public not to fall for the antics of politicians ready to buy their votes, but to vote with their conscience.