The two major political parties in Saturday’s supplementary elections – the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – are making last-minute plans to have their way in the supplementary polls.
The states where elections were declared inconclusive after the governorship/state House of Assembly polls that held on March 9 were Plateau, Kano, Benue, Sokoto, and Adamawa.
It was gathered that as much as the two leading parties had mobilised resources for the political battle on Saturday, they had become jittery over plans by INEC to stop soldiers from the polling areas.
The commission has also vowed to clamp down on those suspected to be handing over cash to voters to compromise their choices of voting for any particular party.
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Sources in INEC, who spoke with newsmen on the preparations, said the commission had made it clear that no soldier must be seen where voting was holding on Saturday.
“We successfully ensured that soldiers were not present at the polling areas on the two elections we have held this year. However, because of some developments we have heard from some parties lately, we have made it clear to the authorities that soldiers are not to be seen in the polling areas on Saturday. They are only to assist us in moving materials to the states.
“It is the duty of policemen to be present at the polling areas, though they must not be armed which, in itself, is a challenge,” said the official.
Findings also revealed that the two leading parties to deploy massive sums of money in the affected polling units to buy votes.
But INEC said the issue of cash-for-vote was “highly- complicated” as the voters were also culpable in the crime.
The source added, “Do you know that in Enugu State during the last elections, some people came to a polling booth with their cards, asking which political party would offer them money. When they could not get a ‘suitor’, will you believe that they went back home without voting? That’s how difficult it has become. So, voters themselves are as guilty as the politicians.
“If they are exchanging money about 100 meters away from the polling booth, how can INEC officials intervene in the transaction? Even if you call the police, the policeman cannot confront armed thugs or hoodlums carrying guns because the policeman is not armed.”
Also speaking, another official of the commission, who also wished not to be named, explained that it was necessary to avoid the “unfortunate incident” that happened in Osun State last year during the governorship rerun.
It was gathered that some European and United States observers complained to the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, about some ugly activities during the Osun rerun, warning him that he should not allow a recurrence in the 2019 general elections in order to keep intact the sanctity of the electoral process.
“What happened in Osun State last year was highly unfortunate and we need to work harder to ensure the credibility of the electoral process. If the will of the people cannot prevail, then the basis of democracy has been destroyed.
“So, we are not taking the issue of vote buying lightly. We need to eradicate it completely and anyone caught, we have to make an example of them to deter others,” he stated.