Osun 2018: Observer Group Calls For Prosecution Of Arrested Vote Buyers, Seller

A Non governmental organisation, Creen Foundation has called on Independent National Electoral Commission In Osun State and Security agencies to ensured they prosecute and punished those who are arrested for alleged vote buying and others offenses in Osun Election held on Saturday .

The Creen Foundation who deployed not less than 90 observers for the 2018 Osun State governorship election said charging those that engage in votes buying and others electoral offences will serves as a deterrent to others in 2019 general election in the country.

The Executive Director of the foundation, Mr Benson Olugbuo while delivering his speech on Sunday in Osogbo on ” post election statement on the conducts of the security agencies for the 2018 Osun state governorship election said that the foundation observed vote buying, card readers malfunctioning and other irregularities

He further exppained that the foundation observed that some were alleged to have collected money on election day and that the card readers in some polling units Malfunctioned .

According to him, the foundation observation was that the smart card readers indicating Malfunction leading to slow down of the election in pooling unit 006 ward 4 in ifelodun local government.

”There were alleged cases of vote buying at polling unit 1ward 3 in Atakumosa West local government, pooling unit 2, ward 8 in Irewole and pooling unit 2ward 2 in Egbedoore local government. Missing names on voters register at ward pu 003 ward 03 Isaleoba Oke-Odo in Iwo local government.

The foundation called on INEC to carry out a wholistic maintance and checks on the the smart card reader ahead of the 2019 general election and should validate the votes register across the country to avoid issues of missing names.

”The security agencies should abide by the the rules of engagement on the conduct of security personnel on election day . continuous voters education should be improved upon by INEC, Media, civil society organization and the political party to voters insisting to vote without PVC or when their names are not on the voters registrater.

He also called on police service Commission (PSC) to discipline police officers indicted for breach of the PSC code of conduct for police officer on election duty and sustainable Inter agencies corroboration among security agencies on election day adding that the welfare of security personnel deployed to the state should remain as a priority for the government.

The foundation also louded INEC and security officers for ensuring a peaceful credible fair and free election even when the election is inconclusive.