The police and other security agencies, ahead of the Saturday governorship election in Osun State, have declared war on vote-buyers and mapped out strategies to checkmate their activities.
Detectives have been deployed to curb the malpractices during the poll, as well as including undercover operatives, to monitor the election and apprehend vote-buyers.
The deployment of police personnel will also be complemented by soldiers, the Civil Defence Corps, and the Amotekun Corps.
Explaining the police strategy against vote-buying, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, informed reporters on Tuesday that the force would not take it lightly with anyone caught engaging in electoral malpractices during the Osun poll.
Adejobi said, “The IG said it today (Tuesday) during the stakeholder forum (in Osogbo) that we are not going to take it lightly with anyone that engages in any electoral violence or malpractices including vote-buying, snatching of ballot papers or boxes, attacking electoral or INEC officials or observers, campaigning during the polls or wearing anything that has any particular logo or emblem during the polls.
“All these violate the provisions of the Electoral Act which is criminal. So we are going to go after those who violate the Electoral Act and the laws of the land. So, we are going to be serious about it but don’t forget that vote-buying is not something you do in the public. We can only go after those we see doing it.”
