ICPC to prosecute electoral offenders especially in the area of vote buying
Punarimam Fehintola
The independent corrupt practices and other related offences commission ICPC has promised to support the independent national electoral commission INEC to arrest and prosecute electorate who engage in vote buying.
The Acting Chairman Dr Musa Usman Abubakar who was represented by Rasheeda Okoduwa said the ICPC is saddled with the responsible of public enlightenment campaign to educate Nigerians on the dangers of vote buying “we in ICPC has been on the air waves warning against vote buying which by law is bribery and we won’t hesitate but to sanction those caught in the act”.
This statement was disclosed during a prize giving ceremony of an anti-corruption easy competition for secondary school students in Abuja.
The Acting chairman also urged principals and school owners to ensure the anti -corruption clubs are functional in their schools to help children become corruption free. “We plead with school owners to ensure the clubs help teach these children how to shun corruption wherever they are”.
One of the collaborators for the Esaay competition Chris Ayim operation lead youth alive foundation said the essence of the competition is to test the student’s moral ability in the area of anti- corruption. “We do this to make them know more on moral values and it is also a strategy to make them know more about corruption and how dangerous it can be”.
Winner of the Easy competition Utiba Abassey said she would like to have a lifestyle that people would emulate and follow. “I want to leave by example for others to see and emulate”.
Abassey also said she has learnt so much during the competition “This easy competition has also helped me to write better especially how to write a debate”.
The first competition took place in July last year with over 1,000 students across five States, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Kano , Rivers and The federal capital Abuja. The five best were awarded and the winner emerged with close supervision from NECO official and the ICPC.
