The Independent National Electoral Commission has clarified that it should not be held accountable for the vote-buying incidents that took place during the Edo State governorship election on September 21, 2024.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, emphasized that vote-buying is a prevalent issue associated with the conduct of political parties rather than the electoral body itself.
Oyekanmi stated, “Vote-buying and alleged result manipulation are tactics used to gain an unfair advantage in elections. INEC cannot be blamed for vote-buying; we are focused on fulfilling our responsibilities.”
He also mentioned, “Other stakeholders need to fulfill their roles and uphold the integrity of the electoral process.”
Following the election, INEC announced Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress as the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party who received 247,274 votes.
However, the election faced accusations of voter manipulation, vote-buying, and irregularities. Various election observers, including civil society organizations, criticized the process and some disputed results in specific local government areas.
Reports from Yiaga Africa indicated that voters were offered bribes ranging from N5,000 to N10,000 by political parties. Both major parties were implicated in vote-buying activities.
Political tensions escalated as the PDP candidate accused the APC of offering money to voters and alleged that INEC allowed manipulation to occur. The Labour Party candidate also expressed concerns over voter apathy and vote-buying during the election.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission conducted arrests related to vote-buying, detaining individuals involved in the illicit practice.
In defense of INEC, Oyekanmi highlighted the commission’s efforts to enhance election credibility by implementing recommendations from various observers, both national and international.
He emphasized, “INEC has consistently strived to ensure fair elections by implementing recommendations from observers. The commission deserves recognition for its efforts in managing the electoral system. The responsibility now lies with political actors and voters to collaborate with INEC to combat the issue of vote-buying.”