INEC staff caught on camera seeking bribe to register voters (Video)

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deployed to the Alimosho Local Government area in Lagos State have been caught on video collecting bribe from residents in the area.

The officials who are currently coordinating the Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise for residents with issues relating to the Permanent Voters’ Cards, were seen in a video, requesting for inducement before attending to people.

Ripples Nigeria’s correspondent gathered from victims who have parted with some form of bribe that it is a common practice of the electoral officers, who request for lunch or recharge card money before attending to any complaints.

They also revealed that the INEC officials connive with the security officials in the schools, serving as centers, to take down names of people from 5am during the course of the exercise.

The findings is part of an investigation conducted by Ripples Nigeria to unearth the difficulties faced by potential voters in the course of trying to obtain their PVCs.

The full story containing more revelations, is to be published tomorrow (Friday).
One of the victims stated that he had been at the location as early as 8am and was told that registration and taking down of names for the day had ended, because they had hit their target of 50 names for the day.

In an attempt to verify the numerous complaints, Ripples Nigeria correspondent visited the alleged centre In pretense of wanting to register and was asked to part way with Lunch money for the for INEC officials.

In the Video, the official is seen discussing with two people who came mid-morning to register and were told that they could not be attended to until they provided lunch money. One of the residents offered to give N500, but the INEC official frowned at his gesture and requested for more.

Ripples Nigeria reached out to the Director Voter Education and Publicity for INEC, Mr Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, to confirm if there had been previous complaints and the punishment for such erring official for a process that is believed to be free.

He stated that such a crime is punishable under the law if any official is asking for or collecting bribe.

“They can go to jail; it is an offence, a criminal offence sanctioned by law, which includes jail, fine or both, for the giver and the taker. As a citizen, you are no longer innocent when you offer money to get registered or to discharge any of those functions, which is an offence. Ignorance is no defence at all, so we try to inform everybody that, you can be prosecuted. As of now, we have had allegations; nobody has come out with evidence of officials, demanding money to perform his job function”, he stated.

 

 

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