See and Buy vote as witness in Ekiti?? By Nuel Nwachukwu.

Curious about how the federal powers, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), will conduct thier business, especially under the presidency of PMB and a new chairman,Senator Abdullahi Adamu, following the anticipations that followed the just concluded the of the APC primary elections. The“get your Permanent Voters Card (PVC)”, crusade get louder as they are many intrigues of internal party face-off that characterized many party primaries. I set out to ado-ekiti the Ekiti State capital to monitor the gubernatorial election. I picked that particular election because of some percularities.Partly because of the equivocalness of the governor, Mr. Fayemi Kayode . That has over time shown to be a-one-man-opposition to the government to then center of President Good luck Jonathan. Secondly, Ekiti state happens to be the only state in Western Nigeria (at least before the elections), that is held by a party differing from the party in power at the center. Making it of keen interest for the powers that be The journey lasted roughly about four and half to five hours. Going from Abuja. We were all good until you know, what drivers do some times, if you’ve ever been transferred to another vehicle to complete a journey, you will understand. we were transferred to another car to take us to ado ekiti. While not happy with the occurrence, because it delayed the journey. I tried to take my mind off, by pondering on how the elections might actually play out. Considering the fact that security tensions were high. What will be the take home from the election? What possible direction, would the pendulum of victory swing towards and what realities could follow. Around Ekure, Ondo state. A conversation ignited. Passengers chatting about who their favorite candidate is and why he should win. Arriving at ado-ekiti. I have to locate the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) office. Which was a little too late owing to the time I arrived. Next I have to find an affordable hotel to put up for the duration of my stay. That I did with help from a kind hearted friend I got from our chatting session. who gave me directions. Another thing I sort to do was get to know some percularities of the state.The state, I got to learn is homogeneous in their mother tongue (Yoruba by the way). so they speak only one dailet of Yoruba across the state. In other words, unlike other states where you find various ethenic groups,that may not understand even a word of a neighbouring clan, in Ekiti, it is not so. Anyone from Ekiti land can hear and understand everyone from Ekiti, no matter the part of Ekiti they are from. North,South, East or West. I don't know about you, but I can't think of any other state where such uniqueness exists in Nigeria. With sixteen local government areas, it is bordered by Ondo, Osun, & Kwara states. Unverified however, on the average, I was told that ekiti state have the highest number of academic scholars in Nigeria. Well, enough of all the dressings. As said earlier, I was keen to observe how the election was conducted. Coming as an unpire (press) to Inec and the political gladiators ( aspirants). I attended briefs by the Inec, the State Police Head quarters, International Observers and Civil Society groups. Engaged with security chiefs on interviews and talked with aspirants, partisans, as well as the “common” man along the street. Every one seemed to be prepared for the deal day. The police alone has over 10,000 men and officer on ground with about 10 election CPs on command. Headed by a DIG. The Nigerian Civil Defense and Security Corp (NSCDC) has the DCG Operations on ground, commanding over 15 State Controllers.Men and officer of the NSCDC numbers another 10,000. Other paramilitaries like the Immigration Services and Prisons were also available. Their figures however, were not confirmed. Military personnels were also deployed but their presence were not so felt in the state capital where I was until the Election day proper. On the Election day, I went round in the company of some colleagues. The Election start quite timely around ado-ekiti, ikere, and other place as I found out from colleagues at other locations. One remarkable phenomenon is observed as we visited polling units. Voters turn-out was quite impressive and early too. They were seen to conduct themselves quitely and orderly. Spite of violence was however reported from about 5 various locations across the state. Notwithstanding, a decadence characterized the exercise. A name we got on the fields, “See and Buy.” “See and buy”, is the way a Voter's vote is purchased by a party agents from a Voter during the elections. Party agents combs the polling unit like they are on a treasure hunt. Woo voters on the side and broker an agreement. The voter goes up when it's his/her turn to vote. Go through the process of accreditation and goes on to cast thier vote. However this time when the have thumb printed their choice on the ballot paper, they must display it to the party agent whose party they have casted their vote, to see as a way of confirmation. Once seen and confirmed it is considered sold. The voter walks on to an assistant party agent who get a sign ( sometimes a nood of head), from the agent who actually saw the ballot paper before he pays the voter. The payments are done at a discreet place around the polling unit. While swaying voters choice or Voter's selling his/vote is not new in the Nigerian election voting process. The practice has taking a rather new dimension and had to be curbed. The security organization stationed to ensure that standards are followed are now an accessory to the crime. The practice is hightened by their indifference. On several occasions during the election, we saw party agents in the very act of paying voters. Called the attention of the police personnels on duty. They hesitated and allowed the culprits get away. See and buy was infact a househood name amongst voters in the ekiti Election and it wasn't without help from security operatives. It was gathered that the APC paid up to the sum of 10k per Voter, while the PDP paid 5k. Worrisome is the continued detoirating morals that is eroding the election processes, and the complexity of security operatives to upholding the standards. Voter should realize that the idealogies of fortune for one day and poverty for the rest part of the year is not progressive. Inec have to do more to ensure that the ballots truely remains secret. Security operatives should not collude with perpetrators of electoral offenses. Some expressed fears that an APC government might be a pun in the hands of the Presidency. An APC government will help the state allocation to be released as at when due, since the state is considered a Civil Service State. Someone else argued. Another lauds the road infrastructure that the PDP government of Fayose has executed as against the past government of the APC flag bearer, Dr. Fayemi. Writing this now, I wish we get another chance to chat again, so I get a feedback on thier feelings after all is said and done.