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On-arguably, the fastest growing Non Governmental Organization, NGO, Polling Units Ambassadors of Nigeria, PUAN, which cut across about 30 states of the federation has called political gladiators to shun financial Inducement of Electorates during the 2023 general election.
PUAN which come onboard 2018 and have participated in all the staggered elections in the country including the just concluded Edo state gubernatorial election took this stand at the first Expanded National Executives Council, NEC, meeting held at the Nigeria National Merit Award, NNMA, House Meitama, Abuja on 11th June 2022.
The meeting hammered on vote buying and other vital matters that are inimical to the success of free, fair, credible and transparent electoral system and solutions were proffered.
PUAN, is a Non-Partisan Organization, saddled with the responsibility of providing electoral awareness at the Polling Units Community.
While ensuring that polls integrity is maintained in our electoral system, we sensitize the electorates who has Permanent Voters Card, PVC, to vote with a focus on responsive and accountable leadership at all levels of governance.
To this end, the meeting was hosted by the National Executives Council, NEC, of the organization, PUAN and had in attendance the Ambassador General, Secretary General, Members of the National Executives Council, NEC, Zonal Deputy Ambassador Generals, DAG’s, Zonal Directors, State Ambassadors, SA’s and State Directors.
It was declared open by the Ambassador General, PUAN, Amb Capt Suleiman Dabas and the Secretary General, Prince Osa Osaghae and gave the guidelines of proceedings of the Exco meeting.
In the course of deliberations, PUAN said, “there is the need for a continuous voters education to the electorates on the dangers of selling their votes.
“Let them be made to understand that selling their votes amount to trading off their rights of who governs or represents them.
“Voters registration should be recognized as a potent process of ensuring that citizens exercise their voting rights as backed by law and acceptability and electoral outcome.
“That voters are fond of staying back during the CVR process of registration until it is few days to the close of the exercise, then they request for an extension of time.”
Participants of the meeting also noticed that, “the number of hours spent at the CVR centres are unbearable, most Nigerians can not afford to spend such long hours at the CVR centres to get registered for PVC while their business and livelihood suffer.
“Realized that during elections, ballot boxes and the poll cubicles are deliberately position to sabotage the secrecy of the voter, that the actions are either championed and perpetrated by party agents or individuals who have authorities in such Polling Units Community.
“Most times, the electoral officers are being harassed and intimidated by these individuals if their biddings are not well carried out.
“That a deliberate National review in the provisions of adequate security throughout election assignments have not been made, which should involve securing electoral officials, electoral materials and voting citizens.
“Also realized that the high cost of expression of interest and nominate forms by political parties are deliberate actions to introduce corrupt practices into our democratic practice.
“They realized that parties have technically disenfranchised Nigerian youths and women from the political circle with the introduction of some very strong party policies that are not favorable to the youths and women.
“That Nigerian politicians and their political parties are heavily involved in vote buying technique, if this is not checked now and given proper national attention, in no distance time, this act will destroy our collective democratic struggle.
“As co-stakeholders with INEC in promoting better electoral reforms, our responsibility should include guaranteeing a level playing field for all actors,” Participants clamored
However, they resolved that, “there is an urgent need for a legislation to establish an electoral offences tribunals to see the immediate prosecution of electoral offenders.
“That party agents should be kept 20 metres away from the voting cubicles to avoid unnecessary interference in the voting process.
“That Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other relevant electoral reforms organizations should collaborate to increase electoral awareness especially at the grass roots, on the dangers of vote buying/selling, since the act amount to trading their rights to choose who governs or represents them.
“That elections should reflect the free expression of the will of the people.
“The security agencies should rise up to the occasion by making arrest and conducting thorough investigation that will aid diligent prosecution in order to secure convictions as the best way to deter criminally minded politicians from embarking on this crime.
“Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, most urgently deploy additional machines to some of the most congested areas to ease the surge in the ongoing CVR as polling Units Ambassadors of Nigeria, PUAN, and other CSOs have launched intensive campaign to encourage registered voters to collect their PVCs and to increase voters turn out on election day.
They also advised, “that INEC should extend the current CVR process to allow more person to register and collect their PVCs.
“That Nigerian politicians should desist from vote buying, voters intimidation, rigging, thuggery and ballot box snatching
“And that political parties must focus on issues based campaign and presentation of clear manifesto’s to win the votes of the electorates.
They commended INEC for persistent and advocacy drive that pressurizes the President into signing the electoral act into law and also gave them kudos to their interactive policies with relevant stakeholders and other designed programmes of the commission that enhanced our electoral processes.
