APC, PDP Deny Cash-for-Vote Accusation ….Prosecute perpetrators or face legal action, SERAP tells INEC …Ekiti House rejects election result, adjourns indefinitely

 

The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have denied the allegations that the two parties were involved in vote-buying in the Ekiti State governorship election.

In spite of the denial by the two major political parties, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, urging him to investigate allegations of vote buying by both the APC and the PDP during Ekiti State governorship election, and to collaborate with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in any such investigation or face legal action.

 The organisation also urged INEC to “prosecute anyone suspected to be involved or complicit in the alleged vote buying, if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence of electoral bribery and abuse of the electoral and democratic process against them.”

 

This is coming as the members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly have rejected the result of the July 14, 2018, governorship election as announced by INEC and adjourned indefinitely.

 The state chapter of the APC said on Tuesday that vote-buying should be discouraged for democracy to grow in the country.

The party expressed appreciation to the Ekiti State voters over the peaceful conduct of the last weekend's governorship election that led to the victory of the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as the governor-elect.

The party also urged media houses to be fair in hearing all the parties involved in the election, saying that selective treatment of issues is a denial of fair hearing for correct public judgment.

 A statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, denied the charge that APC was engaged in vote-buying during the election, explaining that the party did not join in the despicable  act of vote-buying through   inducement to con the people of Ekiti by Governor Ayodele Fayose and PDP candidate, Prof Olusola Eleka.

"Fayose and Eleka are known for throwing tokens at our people from the resources of the state, using the instrument of government. They believe that is what their loyalty is worth and they never had any

plan to lift them beyond the poverty level.

"The return of Fayemi as governor of Ekiti State is a signal that God still answers the prayers of his people whenever they are under torture. The victory signals an end to poverty, squalor and oppressive tendencies of a mindless government who shamelessly refused to pay workers their dues, yet could afford to credit the accounts of voters and some sections of workers with amounts ranging from N3,000

to as much as N100,000 just to curry their voting favours," he said.

Olatunbosun frowned at the practice by media houses in their penchant for unfair selection of party executives to speak on pertinent matters of public interest.

"We take exception to Channels TV penchant for inviting PDP officials for media engagements while it calls just members of APC to address matters that would have been best handled by party officials,” he added.

 

Also reacting to the allegation of vote-buying, the PDP said no circumstance would push it to descend to vote- buying in any election, no matter the machination of the APC.

In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it never bought any vote in the July 14, 2018, governorship election in Ekiti State like the APC did, saying the leadership of the party would never allow such practice under any guise.

"Consequently, members of the APC who are going about media houses and claiming that their party bought votes in response to some parties that engaged in such practice are certainly not responding to the PDP," the party said.

PDP rather said it spent its resources and energy on a democratic campaign that preceded the Ekiti election and never set up kiosks for the “see and buy” of votes as the APC unabashedly did.

The party vowed that it would never allow the APC to get away with its crass abuse of democratic norms through which it suppressed the will of the Ekiti people and appropriated victory to itself in the governorship election.

PDP also restated its position that the state election marks the last time anybody or party would use any means whatsoever to manipulate it out at the polls, particularly in the forthcoming Osun State governorship election and the 2019 general election.

  SERAP has however, requested Yakubu to “take steps within 14 days of the receipt or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will institute legal proceedings to compel you and INEC to discharge your constitutional and statutory responsibilities in the public interest.”

 In the letter dated July 17, 2018, and signed by SERAP’s Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said it is the responsibility of INEC as an independent body to take meaningful steps and action to minimise electoral bribery by politicians, ensure political equality and prevent unfair electoral competition.

 

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State House of Assembly has rejected the result of the governorship election and adjourned till October 8, 2018.

Speaking at the House plenary in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday, the Leader of

Business,  Hon. Akinyele Olatunji, described the process leading to the election and the final result as unfortunate.

Akinyele condemned the harassment of the State Governor,  Mr Ayodele Fayose; the  leaders of the PDP, across the state and members of the state assembly by security agencies.

  The Chairman, House Committee on information,  Hon.  Samuel Omotoso, said the election of July 14,  2018 did not meet up with all democratic credentials.

He pointed out that the election was marred by outright brigandage, vote-buying and falsification of results.

 In his contribution, the Deputy Whip of the House,  Hon Ekundayo Akinleye, noted that the outcome of the governorship election had shown that Nigerians should not expect free and fair election in the 2019 general elections.

He pointed out that there were discrepancies in the final figures released by INEC.

   In his reaction,  the Speaker of the House,  Hon.  Kola

Oluwawole, described the election as a show of shame, alleging that thugs and

security men openly working for the APC.

 Oluwawole said figures were brazenly doubled to favour the declared winner and expressed confidence that the stolen mandate would soon be retrieved.

    The contribution of members at the plenary led to the passage of an

eight-point resolution by the House.

  The resolutions included that the election was heavily militarised with palpable fear on the faces of the electorate;  that the security agencies compromised to the bidding of the APC; that the APC induced voters with money with connivance of the security agencies.

The House has adjourned sitting to the October 8, 2018.