The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has warned against vote-buying ahead of the 2019 elections, noting that the implications cannot be over emphasized.
This Commission made the statement on the sideline of the prize-giving ceremony of the essay competition for secondary schools of the ICPC anti-corruption clubs in Abuja yesterday.
The ICPC acting chairman, Dr. Muse Abubakar, who was represented by the Director, Public Enlightenment/ Spokesperson of the ICPC, Rasheedat Okoduwa stated that vote-buying not only affects the outcome of an election, but it also affects the future of the citizens and should be discouraged.
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Speaking on the event, the ICPC chairman noted that, “I will begin by congratulating the first five students that emerged best in the first round of the competition. I am told that a total of 1, 539 students were mobilized in the clubs rejuvenation exercise out of which 322 drawn from anti-corruption clubs in 126 schools from Akwa Ibom, Kano, Lagos and Rivers states and the Federal Capital Territory participated in the essay competition”.
“Competitions ranging from essay writing to debate have been organized by the Commission since 2007 among student members of ICPC anti- corruption clubs nationwide with the aim of getting the students actively engaged in the fight against corruption. This is part of the major function of the Commission in preventing corruption by educating
and fostering the support and co-operation of the public in the fight against corruption as contained in Section 6 (e & f) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000”.
Also, the ICPC director of education, Ashiru Baba stated that the three projects considered for sponsorship are: National Campaign against Vote Buying; Rejuvenation and Resuscitation of Schools Anti-corruption Clubs and Teacher Training on the National Values Curriculum.
The event was organized by the ICPC in conjunction with an NGO, Youth Alive Foundation and the support of the British Government Department for International Development (DFID).
