The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Ojo Amupitan, has called for the arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in vote buying, describing the act as a criminal offence under the Electoral Act.
Gatekeepers News reports that Amupitan made the call in a video message while urging security and anti-corruption agencies to intensify efforts against electoral fraud.
According to him, institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, and the Nigeria Police Force must ensure that individuals involved in vote trading are arrested and prosecuted.
“Vote buyers must be arrested and prosecuted, it’s a criminal offence under the Electoral Act. It is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies, most especially the EFCC, ICPC, and the police to ensure those involved in it are arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
The INEC chairman also urged political parties to refrain from engaging in vote trading, warning that the practice undermines the credibility of elections and weakens democratic governance.
“We urge all political parties to refrain from this issue of vote trading,” he added.
