Lokoja/Kogi By-election: Group Launch Anti-Vote Buying, Violence Free Campaign

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Hands Across Africa Development Initiative, a Non Governmental Organization in Kogi State on Monday launched a campaign to raise awareness and prevent Vote-buying and electoral violence in the upcoming House of Representatives By-election in the state.
During the launch at their office in Lokongoma, Lokoja, the Executive Director, Comrade Umar Dan’Assabe Muhammed unveiled the campaign called “My Vote No Be Market” and “Peaceful  Lokoja/Koto by-election.
According to Umar, the election observation carried out by HANDS AFRICA in recent elections in Ekiti and reports from other organizations such as YIAGA Africa’s Watching The Vote (WTV) in Ondo and Anambra  revealed an alarming rate of Votes Buying.
“Even though there are legislation against Vote-buying in elections, the tactics adopted by its practitioners is so multifarious that it can only be effectively tackled through deeper societal engagement. Civic education therefore becomes the most effective means to combat Vote-buying.
“The campaign will focus more on the instigators, i.e. political parties and their candidates, while a broader advocacy will concentrate on the recipient voters. Educating citizens about their votes and how it can impact upon their lives. This can help instill a longer term view and make selling of votes less appealing. The NGO also intends to prevent Vote-buying and electoral violence through monitoring of pre-election, elections and post election activities.
“This campaign will partner relevant stakeholders and also make use of technology and social media to raise awareness regarding the movement. Facebook page will be opened where citizens can report cases of Vote-buying making use of their smartphone and cameras so their reports can be backed up with photographic or video evidence.
“The report of Vote-buying and vote-selling will be verified by the organization, after which they will be passed on to INEC for appropriate prosecution of the offenders,” Umar said.

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