A human rights organisation, Centre for Transparency Advocacy, on Friday raised concern that despite the campaign against vote-buying and selling, information at its disposal revealed that politicians have intensified their desperation to ensure commercialisation of votes in the 2023 elections.
The group called on security agencies to watch out for ‘bullion van’ politicians who carry cash about on election day with a view to influencing voters.
It said such politicians and their supporters should be apprehended by anti-graft agencies.
The Programmes and Communications Manager for CTA, MacDonald Ekemezie, raised the issue during a press conference in Abuja.
He said, “There should be a mechanism by relevant government agencies like the EFCC, ICPC, NFIU, etc, to prevent use of public funds and resources by government officials to influence votes and outcomes of elections.
“Politicians who move with money on election days to buy votes should be apprehended by security agencies and anti-graft agencies. They should be prosecuted and punished severely.”
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