Nigerian traditionalists are moving a step ahead of people in other faiths towards curbing vote selling and buying.
Vote buying is the biggest headache in Nigeria’s democracy at the moment, as new devices by the Independent Electoral Commission are checking old ways.
Now ahead of the governorship election in Osun State, the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association there
said it might administer oath on its members to prevent them from selling their votes in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Its President, Oluseyi Atanda, said it was a way of proving the their determination against the scourge.
Atanda said in a statement:
“Specifically, we have instructed our members not to sell their votes or buy votes. Our beliefs and practice forbid mortgaging your conscience before performing your civic duties.
“We have control and means to ensure that our members comply with our directive not to sell or buy votes. If need be, we may go to the extent of administering oath on them to ensure total compliance. It would have been a historic feat, if such oath could be administered on all inhabitants of Osun to forestall this ugly trend rearing its head and spreading like wild fire.
“We urge leaders and adherents of Islam and Christianity to follow our noble example and impress it on their people not to sell or buy votes. They should also go the extra length to chastise their members selling and buying votes. So far, we have not seen a single traditionalist being held for selling or buying votes and that should be emulated by other religions.”
