The British High Commission in Nigeria has raised concerns over the vote-buying during the just concluded Ekiti State governorship election on Saturday.
In an issued statement on the Commission’s verified Twitter handle: @UkinNigeria, yesterday, it stated that: “We are concerned about reports of vote-buying during the election and call on the relevant authorities to hold any persons involved accountable.
“The buying and selling of votes have no place in a democracy. We encourage the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to reflect on other potential improvements to the electoral process ahead of general elections in 2023, especially the re-distribution and assignment of voters to newly established polling units to reduce queuing times, better awareness and implementation of electoral guidelines by INEC staff and improved accessibility at polling units to help with the participation of persons with disabilities”.
The High Commission, however, commended the improvements on the part of INEC and the security agencies, the civil society partners, and all stakeholders during the election.
“As the first major election conducted since the enactment of the Electoral Act 2022, we commend INEC, the security agencies, our civil society partners, and all stakeholders for their collective effort in the successful conduct of the poll under the new legal framework.
“Our team of observers on the ground noted commendable improvements in the electoral process, including the timely opening of polls, better functioning of the BVAS devices for accrediting voters, and the transparent and efficient electronic transmission of polling unit results to INEC’s results viewing portal.
“We urge any party or individuals who are dissatisfied with the process to seek redress in a peaceful manner and through the appropriate legal channels”.
“As Nigeria moves closer to the 2023 general elections, we encourage people to register and collect their PVCs and to participate actively in the political process.
“The UK will continue to assist INEC and our partners in their aspiration to support peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in Nigeria”, the statement further read in part.
Recall that INEC had on Sunday declared Biodun Oyebanji, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the 2022 Ekiti governorship election. Oyebanji, polled a total of 187,057 votes to defeat his two closest challengers, Segun Oni, of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP), and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
