The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned that any staff member who compromises the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State will face the law.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Mutiu Agboke, spoke with journalists shortly after a programme on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, titled “Gbagede Oselu,” in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday.
Speaking on the election scheduled for 2026, the REC said INEC had regulations, adding that whoever contravened the process should be handed over to the security operatives.
“INEC has regulations. It has stipulated the way our machines should work, so any of the INEC staff who will bring up one excuse or the other as against the existing rules and regulations is contravening the rules.
“If you notice that, don’t attack him, call security agents, and report him or her.
“For example, the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System that must have been fully charged is expected to work at its optimum.
“With a fully charged BVAS, it will work without any difficulty. But where a particular staff or ad hoc staff member has connived with some people and made the BVAS not work, then he has compromised the process.
“Such a person should be handed over to the security personnel,” he said.
Agboke blamed stakeholders for electoral fraud in previous elections across the country.
He, however, called for collaboration to curb the rising trend of violence and vote-buying that threatens Nigeria’s electoral integrity.
Agboke, who queried the roles of stakeholders, especially the media, security agencies, civil society organisations, the political class, and religious leaders during elections, lamented the level of terror being unleashed during the pre and election day.
He, therefore, charged the major stakeholders to rise from their slumber and do the needful for the overall development of the country.
Agboke said, “So, for us (INEC), we will continue to campaign against the cankerworm of wanting to buy the minds of the people. That’s number one.
“Number two, even if you have the money, people still believe they can deploy violence to gain advantage.
“There is nothing you can do to curb it other than to continue to engage the stakeholders and discourage them from unleashing terror.”
The commissioner further called on the stakeholders to educate the public on elections and other activities in the electoral process.
“We need to continue to talk to our people to believe in democracy.
“Let me tell you, in the whole world, there is no government that is better and best for the electorate, for the masses than a democratic government.
“And the only process by which somebody can attain this democratic position is by election. We must all find a solution to anything we see as an impediment.
“Only INEC cannot curb or reduce this menace. All other stakeholders, the media, civil society organisations, and the political class in particular, we must engage them. Let them understand that you don’t need money to buy people’s conscience.
“Our people’s conscience must be addressed. Let’s talk to them, tell them you don’t need their money before you vote.
“Your conscience will determine the direction of your votes. For me, the conversation is a continuous one; you cannot stop that.”
He asked that the police leadership, religious leaders and others should also speak on the role they are playing to stop vote-buying and electoral violence.
“These are the things we want to hear, call the political parties, call the politicians. They are the beneficiaries of all these efforts we are making. Politicians are the ones who will benefit most,” he stressed.
