Politics
Vote buying has led to emergence of leaders who have nothing to offer – Dickson
Senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Seriake Dickson, has observed that vote buying and the manipulation of election results have led to the emergence of leaders who have nothing to offer.
Dickson, a former Bayelsa governor, also noted that vote buying and manipulation of results are threats to democracy in Nigeria.
In a statement, he urged stakeholders to take collective responsibility in confronting electoral malpractice, saying that it is a dangerous trend that undermines election outcomes.
The former governor stated that some wealthy and influential politicians exploit poverty and illiteracy to manipulate voters with cash and material inducements in order to get what they want.
The senator added that vote buying and selling disenfranchise the people and undermine the integrity of the democratic process.
According to him, “It’s a dangerous development that leads to the emergence of unqualified leaders who have nothing to offer the country.”
Dickson condemned the “abuse of state institutions” during elections, including the preparation of fake results even before votes are cast.
He stressed that electoral authorities must strengthen safeguards at polling units rather than leaving the burden of justice to the courts, stressing that in many cases, genuine cases of electoral fraud are thrown out on technical grounds.
He added that the practice emboldens perpetrators who know they can manipulate the process and get away with it.
The lawmaker further lamented that some individuals who could not even win elections in their own families or communities now claim victory through fraudulent means, leveraging state machinery and political influence.
Dickson said that as a member of the Senate, he is part of ongoing efforts to introduce stronger legislation to address these electoral anomalies, assuring that they must also recognise that INEC alone cannot control the conduct of security personnel and other government agents involved in elections.
He observed that the desperation to win elections at all costs has led many politicians to defect to ruling parties just to benefit from undue advantages and misuse of state power.
Chairman, Policy Manifesto Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, John Odigie-Oyegun, says former president Muhammadu Buhari gave him the shock of his life, six months into his administration as Nigeria’s leader.
Oyegun made this disclosure on Friday when he featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.
He revealed that as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he went to tell Buhari that he was not delivering his election promises to Nigerians but that the late president told him he would not rule with strictness, but rather wanted to show Nigerians that he is a true civilian president.
The former APC National Chairman lamented that it became business as usual, from there.
“I was national chairman of the APC. Six months or less into our assuming office, fairly alarmed, I went to the late President Buhari for a one-on-one talk. I said Mr President, this is not what the people were expecting. They wanted a bit of the old president Buhari.
“And he explained to me, Mr Chairman, I have learned my lesson. I was shocked. And don’t forget at that time, a lot of prominent Nigerians took their holidays abroad, just to be sure and see what this new sheriff in town will be.
“Buhari told me he wants to now show the people that he’s a true civilian president in Agbada. And by the time we finished the conversation, I said Oh God, we are finished. Because, if he’s not ready to be strict, what’s the point?
“Weeks later, months later, years later, I was proven correct. And of course, it became business as usual, only that they are a new set of tenants in Aso Rock. That was a shocker,” he said.
Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.
The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.
He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.
Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has said Nigerians have every reason to be mad at the Senate over the ongoing debate on e-transmission of election results.
Ezekwesili made this known on Friday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ monitored by DAILY POST.
DAILY POST reports that the Senate on Wednesday turned down a proposed change to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill that aimed to compel the electronic transmission of election results.
Reacting to the matter, Ezekwesili said, “The fundamental issue with the review of the Electoral Act is that the Senate retained the INEC 2022 Act, Section 60 Sub 5.
“This section became infamous for the loophole it provided INEC, causing Nigerians to lose trust. Since the law established that it wasn’t mandatory for INEC to transmit electoral results in real-time, there wasn’t much anyone could say.
“Citizens embraced the opportunity to reform the INEC Act, aiming to address ambiguity and discretionary opportunities for INEC. Yet, the Senate handled it with a “let sleeping dogs lie” approach. The citizens have every reason to be as outraged as they currently are.”
How Buhari shocked me 6 months into his administration – Oyegun
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