The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the National Assembly to enact tougher laws to curb the pervasive issue of vote-buying. The commission made this call during a consultative meeting with security operatives and the technical committee on electoral law amendments in Abuja.
INEC’s Director of Litigation and Prosecution, Tanimu Muhammed, highlighted the urgency of the matter, stating, “Vote buying remains one of the biggest threats to credible elections in Nigeria. We need legislation that not only criminalizes this practice but also puts preventive measures in place.” The commission proposed a cash limit of N50,000 within polling areas to restrict the flow of money intended for voter inducement.
The meeting, organized in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), brought together key stakeholders to discuss electoral security and legal reforms. The consensus was clear: the current legal framework is not sufficient to deter politicians from engaging in vote-buying, which has become an entrenched practice across Nigeria’s electoral landscape.
Beyond advocating for new laws, INEC reiterated its long-standing call for establishing an Electoral Offenses Commission. This body would be dedicated to investigating and prosecuting electoral crimes, including vote-buying. Thus, it would relieve INEC of the burden of prosecution, which it currently handles with limited resources and authority. “INEC is doing its best to handle prosecutions, but we need a dedicated institution with the legal authority and resources to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes comprehensively,” Muhammed emphasized.
The response from security agencies was one of commitment, although they acknowledged logistical and coordination challenges. The Commissioner of Police in charge of Election Planning and Evaluation, Abayomi Shogunle, who represented the Inspector General of Police, noted, “We face major logistical challenges, from deploying officers to remote areas to ensuring real-time communication during elections. These issues need to be addressed if we are to effectively enforce electoral laws.”
Legislators present at the meeting, including Hon. Adebayo Balogun, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, and Senator Sharafadeen Alli, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, expressed their commitment to amending the 2022 Electoral Act based on the feedback from INEC and other stakeholders. “The 2022 Electoral Act was a significant step forward, but its implementation in the last general elections revealed areas that need improvement,” Balogun remarked, adding that there is a need for increased awareness among political parties and the public about the dangers of electoral malpractices.
The call by INEC for legislative intervention is seen not just as a step towards cleaner elections but also as an attempt to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s electoral system. As the country looks forward to future elections, the effectiveness of these proposed legal reforms will be crucial in determining whether Nigeria can truly rid itself of the scourge of vote-buying, ensuring that the will of the people is genuinely reflected at the ballot box.
