The Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) has reportedly placed an embargo on mobile phones and other electronic gadgets during the forthcoming Governorship election in Osun State.
With barely two weeks to the polls, the country’s apex electoral body is aiming to curb the menace of vote-buying and selling.
According to reports, INEC boss, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Monday in Osogbo at the stakeholders’ forum organised ahead of the election.
While voters are not entirely barred from using their digital devices at the polling units, they would not be allowed to hold them immediately they are issued ballot papers.
The malaise of vote buying came to the fore at the last Governorship election in Ekiti.
That attracted serious criticism from the western world, particularly the United Kingdom.
“I was there in Ekiti to monitor elections and I heard a lot of reports of alleged vote buying and we are convinced that some vote-buying went on,” British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, stated in July.
“I condemn it. Vote buying is illegal; it is against the law, it is just as vote rigging, it is just as bad as ballot stuffing. We cannot make a distinction when all these activities are illegal so I condemn that.
