DSS Operatives Arrest Man with Two Bags full of Cash During Ondo Governorship Election |Omohglobalnews

 

Officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a suspected vote-buyer in the Ondo governorship election.

According to Channels TV, the suspect was captured with two bags of money which are suspected to be for the inducement of voters in the election.

He was arrested at Ward 4, Polling Unit 007 outside St. Stephen’s Primary School, Akure, Ondo State around 9 am on election day.

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The bags were not opened before the cameras as a mob encircled.

The DSS operatives then shoved the man into a white bus from where he was spirited away.

Vote-buying has become commonplace in Nigeria’s elections. Civil society organisations continue to bemoan the trend where agents of political parties carry cash to polling units to induce voters to cast their ballots a certain way.

Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Abbas Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) are the frontrunners in the election.

Earlier, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for a peaceful governorship election in Ondo state on Saturday.

In a statement on Friday, Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, Tinubu commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its diligence in distributing sensitive materials to the 18 LGAs of the state.

He assured Ondo state of the support of the security personnel to ensure a peaceful election in the state.

“As Ondo State prepares for its off-cycle governorship election, President Bola Tinubu urges all political stakeholders and the electorate to uphold peace and decorum and fulfil their civic responsibilities without fear before or after the elections,” the statement reads.

“President Tinubu anticipates a democratic process in the state that will genuinely reflect the people’s will and power to freely choose their leaders.

“The President commends the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its diligent preparations for the election, particularly its timely distribution of sensitive materials across all 18 local government areas in the state.

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“He also acknowledges the deployment of security men to maintain law and order. He appreciates the assurances from the inspector-general of police and the Chief of Defence Staff that the personnel will act professionally and adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act to ensure a credible electoral process.”