Ahead of 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all security agencies have been charged to make real their decision on criminalising vote-buying.
Accord Party candidate for Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Irepodun and Isin federal constituency of Kwara state, Olayemi Afolayan-Jejeloye, gave the charge at an empowerment programme he organised for women and youth in the state.
More than 300 widows including 300 youth benefitted from over N20 million empowerment programme which the candidate floated for his would be constituents.
He said: “If vote- buying becomes criminal offence, if people are actually arrested, tried and sent to jail, including politicians themselves, people will desist and shy away from it.”
He challenged politicians seeking elective offices to channel their resources towards the empowerment of the less privileged rather than indulge in vote- buying during elections.
He said his empowerment programme which was held weekend at Oke-Onigbin, was designed to curb youth restiveness by making the unemployed youth self-reliant and independent.
Jejeloye said the youth who were drawn from the 45 wards that made up the constituency were also given POS devices and start-up grant and each of the widows were given foodstuffs with N10, 000 to support them.
He advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the devices to make money and make themselves as well as their families comfortable.