By Desire Emmanuel
The Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, over a report that said he would engage in cash for votes during the November 8 governorship election in the state.
Soludo had on Saturday reportedly promised during his campaign rally of his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, to give his party supporters millions of naira if they vote for the party.
However, reacting to the allegation, SERAP said what the governor reportedly said amounted to blatant violation of the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act and the country’s international anti corruption obligations.
The organisation urged the new INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to also also refer the the ‘cash-for-votes pledge’ case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission after the electoral body had conducted its investigation into the allegation.
It said since Soludo is one of the candidates for the governorship election, there is every likelihood that he will use the state finances to buy votes from the electorate and therefore win the election through this.
According to SERAP: “Electoral bribery undermines the ability of INEC to discharge its responsibilities under Section 153 of the Nigerian Constitution and paragraph 15(a) of the third schedule of the Constitution, and the Electoral Act.
“Electoral integrity is critical to a legitimate democracy. When the integrity of that process is compromised, the legitimacy of the government and the public confidence in public institutions is seriously undermined.
“The ‘cash-for-votes pledge’ is a textbook case of vote-buying and blatant violation of Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], sections 121(1) (a)(c) and 127 of the Electoral Act and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations including under the UN Convention against corruption to which Nigeria is a party.”
