The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the National Assembly to enact legislation prohibiting the possession of large sums of money at polling units to curb vote-buying and electoral malpractices. This appeal came during a consultative meeting with security agencies and electoral law experts in Abuja.
INEC’s Director of Litigation and Prosecution, Tanimu Muhammed, SAN, emphasized the detrimental impact of vote-buying on Nigeria’s democratic integrity. He suggested a cap of ?50,000 for cash carried within polling zones, citing the need for preventive, not just punitive, measures.
“Vote-buying remains one of the biggest threats to credible elections in Nigeria. We need legislation that not only criminalizes this practice but also puts preventive measures in place,” Muhammed stated.
The meeting, organized in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), provided a platform to discuss potential amendments to the Electoral Act.
Stakeholders also reiterated the longstanding call for an Electoral Offenses Commission, arguing that INEC alone lacks the resources to prosecute electoral crimes effectively. Hon. Adebayo Balogun, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, assured that these recommendations would be incorporated into upcoming reforms to strengthen electoral transparency and credibility.
