Group demands probe of Adebutu over vote buying with branded automated machine cards
A group, Ogun Integrity Vanguard, has tasked the security agencies in Nigeria particularly the police, to ensure comprehensive probe of the electoral infractions allegedly perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Governorship candidate in Ogun State, Hon Oladipupo Adebutu, during the March 18 Governorship and State assembly elections in the state.
Penpushing reports that the group made the call in a statement signed by its secretary, Duro Thomas, and made available to journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, making reference to vote buying alleged to have been perpetrated by agents of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
The group while buttressing its point made reference to the arrest of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agents in Agbado area of the state where they were allegedly caught with cash, more than 300 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and Verve prepaid Automated Machine (ATM) cards.
Penpushing further reports that Verve prepaid Automated Machine (ATM) cards were inscribed with the name Caroline Oladunni Adebutu Memorial Endowment Scheme written boldly on them, pointing out that the action was a clear contravention of the Electoral Act.
“It was not only the police that arrested agents of the PDP and other parties carrying out such devious acts. As amply documented by the spokesman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi, operatives of the agency on election duty stop and search intercepted four party agents with hundreds of money credit cards meant to buy votes at Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta’, the group stated.
“Each card contained N10, 000 and was meant to be activated with a code. The suspects, who were PDP agents, were subsequently handed over to the police. It is clear that Adebutu’s bloated image is underpinned by corrupt tendencies’.
‘If we want this election to be a litmus test for future elections where Nigerians say no to manipulation and corruption of the electoral space, there is a need for the police to not only investigate but to also invite the PDP governorship candidate to explain why he carried out such infractions”
Penpushing also reports that the group added that a situation where some people believed that they could have their way through manipulation and corruption of the electoral process must stop, stressing that if the Independent National Electoral Commission is sincere, this is the time to prosecute and make some people scapegoats.
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