Religious leaders in Ondo State has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that a hitch-free election is conducted during the oncoming November 16 governorship election in the state.
According to the religious leaders, necessary technologies and human capacity should be deployed for the poll.
While admonishing the electoral body to curb the menace of vote-buying and electoral violence the Chairman of Leagues of Imam in the state, Alhaji Ahmad Aladesawe, during an interactive session with the religious leaders and faith-based groups in the state organised by INEC, called for stiffer punishment for anyone caught engaging in electoral malpractices.
Aladesawe, who stressed the need for the country to be sanitised of its electoral system to be devoid of malpractices, stressed that politicians must learn how to play the game by the rules to ensure the growth of the nation’s democracy.
“Politicians and youths should abstain from hooliganism. We all know what is right, and if we can do the right thing, there will not be room for controversy, “ he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the state, Anslem Ologunwa, who was represented by Victor Adeola, said that INEC has been proactive.
Ologunwa, who urged politicians to also educate their followers to ensure peaceful conduct of the election, stated that the election should not be a do-or-die affair.
Ologunwa harped on the need for INEC to ensure a peaceful election, urging the electoral body to be fair and transparent and ensure the votes of the electorate count.
The Resident Electoral Commission, REC, Oluwatoyin Babalola, said the electoral body would continue to engage the electorates on the issue of vote buying as part of efforts to curb the menace.
“Our goal is to change the orientation of the electorate through education and engagement. INEC has an Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), where agencies like the ICPC and EFCC are vital members.
“INEC does not participate in vote-buying or selling, and we strongly encourage the political class not to tempt voters with such inducements,” he said.
Ondo guber: Religious leaders task INEC with elimination of vote-buying, violence