2019: IPAC warns against use of public funds to buy votes

Ahead of next year’s general elections, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has warned against the use of public funds to induce voters.

IPAC National Chairman, Mr. Peter Ameh, who spoke during a conference organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in Abuja, implied that chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) indulged in the act in the recently held Osun and Ekiti governorship elections.

Decrying the recurring incidence of votes buying and other corrupt practices in the electioneering process, Ameh argued that the problem could be addressed if public office is made less attractive.

Ameh, who is the presidential candidate of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), maintained that the problem would be nipped in the bud if the electorate jettison the temptation to trade off their votes in return for cash before casting their votes.

The IPAC chief said it was unfortunate that politicians who were privileged to have access to state funds have been found wanting in votes buying during elections, adding: “I think we have made government service too lucrative for people to want to put in N1billion to N10 billion and how do you recoup such money? For us, government should be a call to service and should be made less lucrative. Elective positions should be for people to come and serve for the development of the people. 

“We must be able to make sure elections are not a do or die matter and are free and fair, transparent and allow the will of the people to prevail, so that the ordinary man can contest in whatever platform.”

He added: “Now that some parties are using state funds to sponsor themselves, how does that equality come? How would that protection come? So, we are also asking Nigerians to own the process and election for elections to be credible, the state actors must act in line with the rules, they must be unbiased and active. If we do all these, there would be integrity of the electoral process. 

“Nigerians shouldn’t sell their votes, because selling your votes is equal to selling another four years to a man that would not give you service. Why do you sell your votes? Just cast your votes according to your conscience, don’t say even if I cast my vote for him or her, it won’t make any difference.”

He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Electoral Act, as amended, which he said is aimed at ensuring the use of card reader and transmission of results from polling centres through the use of electronic devices.

In the same vein, spokesperson of the Coalition of Political Parties (CPP), Mr. Ikenga Ugohinyere, lamented that the situation was compounded by the inability by security agents to bring those caught indulging in vote buying during the electioneering process to book.