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2023: Come up with measures to tackle vote-buying – Mkparawa Ibibio tasks INEC, others
By Joseph Ayinde
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the foremost socio-cultural organisation of Ibibio extraction in Akwa Ibom State, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) as well as the security agencies to come up with modalities that would tackle the issue of vote-buying in Nigeria.
The 11th president of the group, Akparawa James Edet, who made the call in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Pastor Idongesit Ikono, said this became expedient following the rising cases of vote-buying witnessed in elections held in some States recently.
According to the statement, “the International President expresses deep concern over the latest monster in our electoral system called vote-buying.
“The president charges INEC and security agencies to come up with adequate measures to deal effectively with the ugly trend in order to protect the sanctity of the ballot.”
He also called on all ibibio sons and daughters throughout the country to utilize the window given by INEC for the Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise, which will end on July 31, 2022.
Edet said as the 4th largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria, the Ibibios should register en masse to reflect their strength so that their voices will be heard resoundingly in the 2023 general elections.
He commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for its effort at mobilizing indigenes and residents of the State to participate in the CVR exercise.
He acknowledged visible improvements in the country’s electoral process as evident in the recent off season elections in some States and commended the INEC for restoring confidence in the system, even as he encouraged it to explore more innovations to further improve the electoral process and boost more public confidence.
