The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says nine persons arrested for vote buying in Osun State have been successfully prosecuted and convicted.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Mutiu Agboke, made the disclosure on Monday during a radio interview in Osogbo.
According to Dr Agboke, the convictions underscore INEC’s determination to ensure a credible governorship election when voters go to the polls later in the year. He said the commission remains committed to conducting a transparent election but emphasised the need for cooperation from political parties, the media and other stakeholders.
He warned political parties against violating electoral guidelines, urging them to conduct their campaigns and activities within the provisions of the law.
On voter registration, Dr Agboke said INEC had upgraded its Continuous Voter Registration system to eliminate the possibility of multiple registrations. He added that the commission would take decisive action against anyone found attempting to compromise the process.
The REC also called on journalists to support the commission by helping to curb the spread of misinformation, noting that unverified reports could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
He revealed that a WhatsApp platform had been created by the state INEC office to keep media practitioners informed of official activities and developments.
Dr Agboke warned that INEC would pursue legal action against any media organisation or journalist found to have published false or defamatory information about the commission without proper verification.
