INEC in collab with other agencies to ensure free, fair make or break ballot
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Vote-buying this year will be checked by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in collaboration with Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Matters Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Rivers INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Johnson Sinikiem said vote-buying is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the democratic system and the INEC has sensitised the electorate to report anyone involved in the crime.
He spoke in Port Harcourt at the 2023 Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Sinikiem, represented by INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity Mark Usulo, warned that with the new Electoral Act anyone caught with someone else’s Permanent Voter Card (PVC) risks jail.
He disclosed security agencies, especially the Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have been briefed to watch out for those who possess other people’s PVCs.
He urged the media to ensure accurate reportage of INEC activities before, during, and after the election, assuring them the body would ensure free, fair, credible, and violent-free vote.
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No one can use another person’s PVC to vote, INEC tells politicians buying PVCs
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Concern over political violence
Chapel Chairman Amaechi Okonkwo expressed concern over increasing political violence in Rivers.
“In the past few weeks, we all know what has been happening around politics and campaigns in Rivers State.
“Even before now, we were not unaware of information about violence or pockets of violence here and there relating to election and campaigns in Rivers State,” Okonkwo said, via reporting by The Guardian.
“Rewind to 2019 when we last held general elections here and you will understand the economic and social disruptions, the loss of lives and property and the nightmares of militarisation of the state, which are still very fresh in our hearts.
“This is the reason we insisted on joining the discussion to reinforce not just the discussion but demand for peaceful general elections in Rivers State.”
Veteran journalist Jossy Nkwocha, who chaired the event, urged journalists and media outlets to be patriotic in their reportage of elections.
“Be careful of fake news from various interest groups. Fake news is the biggest thing that threatens journalism and even the electoral process,” said Nkwocha, now Head of Corporate Communication at Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals.
“Let us ensure we check sources of information before using such stories. Let’s maintain neutrality and give all political parties equal opportunities at all times.
“Let’s beware of materials that cause character assassination of political opponents. Let’s be careful with information that may trigger violence in the electoral process.’
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