The Nigeria Police Force has explained why it cannot arrest any electorate involved in vote buying in Saturday’s off-cycle governorship election in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated this while attending to questions from journalists on the Channels Television programme on Friday night.
DAILY GIST reports that the governorship elections will take place in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States on Saturday, November 11.
The states are three of six states in Nigeria with off-season governorship polls. Others are Ondo, Edo and Osun.
The former INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee Chairman, Festus Okoye had, announced the election date in October 2022.
Okoye said the decision was in tandem with Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act of 2022, which requires the commission to publish the notice of election not later than 360 days before the date set for the poll.
While the current governor of Imo State’s term expires on January 14, 2024, Okoye said the governors of Kogi and Bayelsa States had respective terms that expire on January 26, 2024, and February 13 of the same year.
Adejobi, who was explaining the rule of engagement in the November 11 election, said police operatives have no right to make arrests at the polling unit unless asked to do so by electoral officers.
Vote buying and selling in Nigeria are consistent with the continued materialisation and commercialisation of political parties.
Those with lower income status become prey for political parties in vote buying, though the rich are equally not left out of the booty.
