INEC seeks stricter laws to curb vote-buying
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on the National Assembly to enact stricter laws prohibiting the possession of large sums of money within polling areas as part of efforts to curb vote-buying and other electoral malpractices.
The commission proposed that individuals should not be allowed to carry more than ₦50,000 within polling areas.
INEC’s Director of Litigation and Prosecution, Tanimu Muhammed SAN, stated this at a consultative meeting with security operatives and the technical committee on electoral law amendments in Abuja on Friday.
Muhammed noted the growing concern over vote-buying, which has become a major threat to Nigeria’s democratic process.
The meeting, organised by the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss electoral security and legal reforms.
The INEC representative noted that politicians often justify carrying large amounts of cash on election day by citing party agent payments and logistical expenses.
However, he warned that unrestricted cash circulation at polling units has fueled vote-buying and compromised the integrity of elections.
To address this challenge, Muhammed suggested that individuals should not be allowed to carry more than ₦50,000 within polling areas.
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“Vote-buying remains one of the biggest threats to credible elections in Nigeria. We need legislation that not only criminalizes this practice but also puts preventive measures in place,” Muhammed stated.
The commission urged lawmakers to prioritise amendments that would close loopholes exploited by political actors.
Beyond vote-buying, INEC officials reiterated their long-standing demand for the establishment of an Electoral Offenses Commission, arguing that the electoral body cannot effectively prosecute offenders.
“INEC is doing its best to handle prosecutions, but we need a dedicated institution with the legal authority and resources to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes comprehensively,” Muhammed stated.
“The creation of an Electoral Offenses Commission would ensure that vote-buying, ballot snatching and other crimes are met with swift legal action,” he added.
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