Vote Buying:”I see people losing so much money in 2023 elections” _ Igini

The former Akwa Ibom State Residential Electoral Commissioner for INEC, Mike Igini has said that politicians in Nigeria are going to lose so much money on account of vote buying in the 2023 general elections.

He made the remark while responding to questions as a guest on ARISE television programme The Morning Show on Wednesday bothering on the issue of vote buying and trading.

He said vote buying is the greatest problem which has now assumed the level of epidemic in the political process warning “I see people losing so much money in 2023 elections. People are going to lose so much money on account of what is contained in the 2022 Electoral Act and procedures if all is fully implemented.

“I see a great promise on account of the 2022 Electoral Act and the procedure of INEC that have been well secured.

He reminiscences the 1979 and 1983 general elections when items of transaction for votes were salt and wrappers but has since scaled up to physical money exchanging hands.

He attributed the spike in vote buying which he described as any transaction in exchange for something to the radical improvement in the electoral process, unlike the era when results were written.

Igini gave four implications of vote buying one of which is that vote fraud reinforces inequality in society.

In recognition of this grave concern, INEC is already making arrangements to engage the services of undercover agents to monitor vote buying.