- SERAP has commenced a lawsuit to compel INEC to prosecute the politicians who engaged in vote-buying during Ekiti gubernatorial election
- The advocacy group is also urging the court to order the Prof Yakubu Mahmoud, chairman of INEC to demand from law enforcement agencies the reports on the alleged vote-buying
- Going further, SERAP argued that both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party engaged in vote-buying
Following reported cases of votes buying during July 14 Ekiti state governorship election, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project ( SERAP), a foremost advocacy group has instituted a lawsuit to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute the politicians who engaged in vote-buying during the election.
The suit filed which was filed on Friday, August 31, before the Federal High Court in Lagos, the advocacy group urged the court to order Prof Yakubu Mahmoud, chairman of INEC, to demand from law enforcement agencies the reports on the alleged vote-buying, so that culpable politician could be prosecuted, Punch reports.
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Going further, the group said it had no choice than to sue INEC when the electoral umpire failed to carry out its request of arresting vote buyers.
SERAP said its suit followed allegation that both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engaged in vote-buying during the governorship election in Ekiti state.
It said “till date, INEC and its Chairman have failed, neglected and/or refused to comply with the request by SERAP to prosecute alleged vote buyers”.
SERAP added that: “INEC has no reason whatsoever not to comply with SERAP’s request, because the commission has constitutional and statutory responsibilities to prosecute bribery and undue influence in the context of elections and other electoral offences, as well as conduct and ensure a free and fair election.”
Recall that NAIJ.com had reported that the governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, reiterated his call for a free and fair gubernatorial election in the state on July 14; stating that the people of the state would resist any attempt to rig the election.
He made the comment at the inauguration of the new judiciary complex in Ado-Ekiti, which was named after the state’s first chief judge and current Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye.
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Source: Naija.ng
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