Senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Seriake Dickson, has observed that vote buying and the manipulation of election results have led to the emergence of leaders who have nothing to offer.
Dickson, a former Bayelsa governor, also noted that vote buying and manipulation of results are threats to democracy in Nigeria.
In a statement, he urged stakeholders to take collective responsibility in confronting electoral malpractice, saying that it is a dangerous trend that undermines election outcomes.
The former governor stated that some wealthy and influential politicians exploit poverty and illiteracy to manipulate voters with cash and material inducements in order to get what they want.
The senator added that vote buying and selling disenfranchise the people and undermine the integrity of the democratic process.
According to him, “It’s a dangerous development that leads to the emergence of unqualified leaders who have nothing to offer the country.”
Dickson condemned the “abuse of state institutions” during elections, including the preparation of fake results even before votes are cast.
He stressed that electoral authorities must strengthen safeguards at polling units rather than leaving the burden of justice to the courts, stressing that in many cases, genuine cases of electoral fraud are thrown out on technical grounds.
He added that the practice emboldens perpetrators who know they can manipulate the process and get away with it.
The lawmaker further lamented that some individuals who could not even win elections in their own families or communities now claim victory through fraudulent means, leveraging state machinery and political influence.
Dickson said that as a member of the Senate, he is part of ongoing efforts to introduce stronger legislation to address these electoral anomalies, assuring that they must also recognise that INEC alone cannot control the conduct of security personnel and other government agents involved in elections.
He observed that the desperation to win elections at all costs has led many politicians to defect to ruling parties just to benefit from undue advantages and misuse of state power.
According to him, more of the politicians are defecting, not for ideology or service, but to secure personal advantage in elections.
