A former senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has appeared in a photo sharing what appears to be money to voters in his constituency.
The picture was secretly taken shortly before Mr Melaye cast his vote at 9:15 am at Iluafor polling unit 004, Ayetoro 1 on Saturday.
There are reports widespread vote-buying by all the major parties involved in the elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the APC of plan to buy voters after the Senate approved release of N10billion refund for Kogi State government three days to the election.
The Centre for Democracy Development, CDD on Friday said there are indications that a lot of money has been set aside for vote-buying on Saturday.
A report from the CDD’s Election Analysis Centre, EAC, said already there has been the distribution of gift items such as Ankara textile materials and rice in Lokoja and Koton Karfe Local Government Areas of the state.
In a statement signed by the CDD Director, Idayat Hassan, the organization said accredited and trained observers have been keeping a close watch on the electoral process stating that ‘there are indications that a lot of money has been set aside for vote-buying on Saturday’.
In addition, CDD said the latest reports received from their observers indicate massive inducement of INEC Supervising, Presiding Officers, SPO, across the 21 Local Government Areas of the State.
The reports further indicate that one of the parties have made overtures, and has been inducing the SPOs with bribes USD1,000 to buy them over, and get them (the SPOs) to do their bidding on Election Day.
“These reports were further confirmed from Bureau de Change (BDC) Operators within the State who were interviewed.
“The BDC operators report that there has been an upsurge in the number of customers calling to change USD1000 to Naira. ‘‘The use of financial inducement to subvert the credibility of the electoral process is antithetical to the democratic ethos.
“CDD condemns in the strongest possible terms all forms of inducement of poll officials. The Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) expressly frowns at bribery and all forms of inducement of poll officials.
Specifically, Section 124(4) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended states: “Any person who commits the offence of bribery is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for 12 months or both,” said CDD.
