The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), has directed security agencies across Nigeria to arrest and prosecute individuals involved in vote buying and electoral inducement, warning that the practice remains one of the biggest threats to democratic credibility in the country.

Amupitan made the call while addressing electoral stakeholders ahead of upcoming elections, stressing that vote buying undermines the integrity of the ballot and erodes public confidence in the democratic process. He said decisive enforcement was necessary to deter political actors and their agents from corrupting voters during elections.

According to him, security agencies including the Nigeria Police Force and anti-corruption bodies must intensify surveillance at polling units and ensure that offenders are promptly arrested and made to face prosecution under existing electoral laws.

The INEC Chairman reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections, noting that electoral integrity cannot be achieved if vote trading is allowed to persist unchecked.

He also urged voters to resist financial inducements from politicians, insisting that the power of the ballot must remain in the hands of citizens and not be influenced by money or intimidation.

Election observers have consistently identified vote buying as a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly during high-stakes gubernatorial and general elections, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement measures.

Professor Amupitan reiterated that the commission will continue working with relevant security and regulatory agencies to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and ensure offenders are held accountable.