The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a
fine of N500,000 or three years imprisonment, or both, for persons
convicted of vote-buying and selling in the country.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this in Abuja,
yesterday, at the Ninth Forum of the Anti-Corruption Situation Room,
organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA).
Yakubu, who was represented at the event by the INEC National
Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus
Okoye, said vote-buying and selling during elections in the country have
become a huge source of worry to the electoral umpire as well as the
international community.
He said it is imperative for the National Assembly to take more legislative actions to tackle the menace.
“The National Assembly should isolate vote-buying and selling and
properly define it. It varieties in ingredients and (they should) make
it a separate item in the Electoral Act and provide sanction for
violation.
“The punishment for vote-buying should be increased and made stiffer
to act as deterrent to buyers and sellers. Those who commit the offence
of buying and selling should be made to pay a fine of N500,000 or be
subjected to three years imprisonment, or both.
“Restriction on the use of smart phones in polling units should be
put into the Electoral Act and violators should be liable on conviction
to a fine of N500,000 or three years imprisonment or both,” Yakubu said.