The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is collaborating with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Matters Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to check vote-buying the forthcoming general election.
Describing vote-buying as a cankerworm that have eaten deep into the country’s system, the electoral body said it has also been sensitizing youths in various villages in the country to monitor and report anyone involved in the act during the elections.
He also assured there have several attempts being made by unscrupulous persons to hack into the INEC website to compromise it, but they have failed because of the constant vigilance and upgrading of the website and portal.
He said the security agencies, especially the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) have been briefed to watch for people in possession of PVCs that are not theirs.
The REC, who called on the media to ensure accurate reportage of INEC activities before, during and after the eneral elections, said the electoral body will ensure free, fair, credible and violent-free election.
He assured with measures already put in place by INEC and guaranteed by the Electoral Act it will near impossible for over voting to take place at the polling units because any evidence of over voting is outright cancelation of votes cast at particular unit.
On the fear of failure of Bimodal the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) on the day of the election due to poor network and power supply, INEC assured that BIVAS has been configured in such a way that it can still work offline in remote areas where there is no network.
In an answer to the question asked by our Correspondent Osulo said there has concrete assurances from network providers and the National Communication Commission that there will be network to transmit the results to INEC portal.