#OndoDecides2024: PSC decries vote-buying

The Police Service Commission on Saturday reported that instances of vote buying were recorded at some polling centres during the Ondo State governorship election.

The PSC, which deployed staff to monitor the conduct of police officers, lamented that vote buying had become a recurring issue in elections across the country.

“There were, however, reports of pockets of vote buying in some voting centres, which have become a recurring issue in elections in the country,” stated Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission’s spokesperson, in its interim report on the election.

Ani, however, commended the security personnel deployed for the election in the state.

He said, “The PSC expressed its satisfaction with the performance of the security personnel who policed the Ondo State governorship election held today. The Commission staff monitors reported that the security officers, particularly the police, arrived at voting centres on time and fulfilled their constitutional responsibility of securing the election space.

“The Commission monitors noted that the police officers were polite and civil but firm in the conduct of their electoral duties. DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Force CID and who oversaw the security management of the election, ensured a seamless deployment of security personnel, with Commissioners of Police in charge of all the Local Government Areas.

“He was assisted by other senior police officers, including the AIG Zone 7, AIG Benneth Igwe, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Abayomi Oladipo Peter, and Olatunji Disu, CP of the Federal Capital Territory.

“PSC monitors reported that the election security was generally credible and above average and has received commendation from the Civil Society Situation Room. Members of the Situation Room also commended the Commission for its proactive oversight of police conduct during elections.”