Osun 2022: Politicians in Trouble As Police Declare War on Vote Buyers.

The police and security agencies promised to arrest vote-buyers in the Osun state governorship elections scheduled for Saturday, July 16. The Punch reported that the police authority has mapped out strategies for vote-buyers’ activities on check during the electioneering.

The security operatives said they had deployed undercover operatives to monitor the Osun election and arrest vote-buyer, hoping this move would curb the malpractices during the poll.

Security operations during the poll will also be supported by soldiers, civil defence corps and Amotekun corps.

<b> Vote buying has put the integrity of elections in Nigeria to test.</b>

Vote-buying has put the integrity of recent elections in Nigeria to test; political parties’ agents heavily induced voters at the polling units to influence the election’s outcome in favour of the highest bidder.

The recent move by the security operatives is aimed at stopping the growing syndrome, which was obvious in the Ekiti governorship and other recent elections. Some suspects, including party agents, have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for engaging in the act during the June 18 Ekiti governorship election.

Muyiwa Adejobi, the police public relations officer, disclosed that the force would not take it easy with any suspect caught in vote-buying and other electoral malpractices during the election.

“The IG said it today (Tuesday) during the stakeholder forum (in Osogbo) that we are not going to take it lightly with anyone that engages in any electoral violence or malpractices including vote-buying, snatching of ballot papers or boxes, attacking electoral or INEC officials or observers, campaigning during the polls or wearing anything that has any particular logo or emblem during the polls,” Adejobi said.