Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has warned against vote buying and selling in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo state.
The election will hold on September 21, 2024.
Olukoyede issued the warning on Monday during a town hall meeting on voter sensitisation in Ekpoma, Esan West LGA, and at the Famcoop Hall, University of Benin.
Represented by Williams Oseghale, assistant commander of the EFCC, the chairman said vote buying and selling are against the law.
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He asked participants to also take the message to their friends, brothers, sisters and colleagues.
“Ignorance is not an excuse in law. That I don’t know is not an excuse. The law is against it. So stay away from it,” he said.
Citing the Electoral Act, he said any person who “buys or offers to buy any voters’ card whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding N500,000.00 or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both”.
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Ochre Precious, executive director of YES Project Initiatives, who facilitated the programme, said the essence of the town hall meeting was to inspire youths to discharge their civic responsibilities by registering and casting their votes.
He said it was also aimed at discouraging trading in votes during the governorship election.
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