By Rabiu MUSA
The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC),has disclosed it uncovered a new method of vote -buying with the aim of undermining the electoral process.
This information was made known in Abuja during the presentation of the Voter Register for the 2019 general elections to political Parties.
Yakubu posited, ” The Commission has received credible information that some partisan actors were going around buying up Permanent Voter Cards(PVC) from voters or financially inducing them to collect the Voter Identification Number on their PVC. ”
He added, ” In some instances, telephone numbers and details of bank accounts of voters have been collected. By collecting the PVC ,their intention may be to deprive the voters of voting since no one can vote without the PVC. ”
He continued, ” By collecting their phone numbers and bank details, the intention is to induce voters by electronic transfer of funds to their accounts since it will difficult to buy votes at polling units. ”
He asserted, ” We want to assure Nigerians that we are aware of the new tricks.It is a futile effort.” Adding.” We have introduced a partial ban on mobile phone and other photographic devices by voters while in the voting cubicles.”
