Dogara
Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara, has condemned
the distribution of cash to the public very close to general
elections by public officials, saying no matter how noble the intent
may be, such endeavors amount to vote buying and inducement, which is
a clear case of corruption.
Delivering
remarks at a public hearing organised by the National Assembly Joint
Committee on INEC and Political Parties Matters on Vote-buying and
Improving the Electoral Processes in Nigeria, Hon Dogara said the act
of inducing the public with cash in exchange for their votes is a
fraud that is covered within section 124 (1)(a);(b);(c);
Section(124)(2)(4)(5) and Section 130 of the Electoral Act.
He
also noted that financial inducement for votes contravenes the
fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy
enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution, even as there is also a lack
of political will to implement the laws to offer deterrence to
violators and even where arrests are made, prosecutions are unheard
of despite the damaging effect of the practice.
Hon
Dogara explained, “Vote buying and other sundry criminal
manipulations of the electoral process in Nigeria have left our
citizens in a state of unmitigated disaster. As a result, we have
been married off to a mob. A mob that rules us by the example of
their power nor by the dictates of law. A mob that rules by fear as
an inalienable tool rather than by courage. A mob that accepts the
status quo rather than challenge it. Mobs don’t grow others, they
only destroy others in order to grow themselves. We follow the mob
because we must, not because we are receiving any sense of
significance for our own lives from them. Our democracy has
stagnated and will sadly remain so until we eliminate all sham
elections which have the effect of throwing up the worst of us to
lead the best of us.
“It
is instructive to note that the Electoral Act anticipated and
captured most forms of electoral fraud including inducement and vote
buying. I hope we will have the courage at this event to address the
distribution of cash to the public very close to general elections by
public officials. I am afraid that such endeavours no matter how
noble the intentions behind them may fall within the all-encompassing
provisions of S. 124 (1)(a);(b);(c); and S.(124)(2)(4)(5) and
S. 130 of the Electoral Act. Although penalties are not stringent,
there is also lack of political will to implement the laws as it is,
even if it were to offer feeble deterrence to violators. Arrests are
hardly made and even where arrests are made, prosecutions are unheard
of.
“Indeed,
the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy
enshrined in our Constitution envisages that Nigeria shall be a State
based on the principles of Democracy and that sovereignty belongs to
the people of Nigeria, through which government derives its
authority, powers and legitimacy. Therefore, any form of
contrivance by any person or authority to unduly influence the choice
of the voter is condemnable as it is patently an assault on this
constitutional guarantee.
“Undue
influence of voters has always existed in different forms all over
the world, however, the recent phenomenon of direct pricing and
buying of votes as if in a market square is very disturbing. It is
one of the highest forms of corruption,” he stated.
Reiterating
the need for free, fair, credible and transparent elections, he
stressed that that is the very basis for translating the consent of
the governed into governmental authority, especially as elections are
now so attractive that even pretentious democracies lay claim to
holding elections just in order to confer some aura of legitimacy on
their rule.
While
noting that not all elections are democratic elections, he said that
for elections to qualify as democratic, they must be competitive,
periodic, inclusive and definitive and free, fair, credible and
transparent elections, therefore, is the very basis for translating
the consent of the governed into governmental authority.
The
speaker, therefore, called on Nigerians and members of the global
community to rise up for free, fair and credible elections and fight
against the phenomenon of electoral fraud that could destroy the
nation’s democracy and install leaders that would operate as if
they are above the law.
“The
high prevalence of vote-buying in the electoral system of the country
is, without any doubt, of great concern to all Nigerians and members
of the global community who truly love democracy. It is
disheartening that this absurd phenomenon has assumed alarming
proportions in recent times. As citizens, we must not surrender to
this criminality as we cannot do so and still expect honour. When
political office holders defy the law and corruptly assume office,
they will always operate as if they are above the law,” he added.
Hon
Dogara further noted a more worrisome dimension to vote buying which
he stated is the alleged use of the officials of the electoral
umpire, INEC, and officers of security agencies to induce, or
intimidate and coerce voters to vote for particular candidates.
He lamented that “such absurdities have been widely reported in the
media and confirmed by some local and international observers in
respect of the recently concluded governorship elections in Osun
State.”
“As
expected, all lovers of democracy worldwide rose to condemn these
despicable incidents. Condemnation is not enough, it will amount to
hypocrisy, if we don’t take the bull by the horn by taking concrete
steps to eliminate these evils that make mockery of our hard worn
democracy.
“Let
me seize this opportunity to call on all people of goodwill in our
country to rise in condemnation and denunciation of vote-buying and
all forms of electoral malpractices. Indeed, electoral fraud is
one of the worst forms of corruption, and should be treated as such.
This is the only way we can guarantee the stability and growth of our
democracy,” he charged.
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