Many Nigerians have criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for openly violating a provision of the Electoral Act 2022 on election day.
Development Diaries reports that millions of Nigerians, including the president, trooped out to elect the country’s next president and federal lawmakers on Saturday, 25 February.
But President Buhari, after casting his vote at his polling unit in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State, openly displayed his ballot papers indicating the candidates he voted for.
Section 126, subsection one (a) of the electoral law provides that no person shall canvass for votes on election day.
Although President Buhari later explained that the show of his ballot paper was a commitment to his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), this act can clearly be seen as canvassing for party votes on the day of the polls.
The electoral law also stipulates that anyone who defaults is liable to a fine of N100,000 or six months imprisonment.
If the president, who is a person of authority, is seen publicly violating a provision of the Electoral Act, does this indicate that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has failed in the area of voter education?
Or could it be that the president is aware but he chose to disregard the act because he enjoys immunity against prosecution?
If his action had been carried out by an ‘ordinary’ citizen, the person would have been accused of vote buying.
It is also interesting to note that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was found in the company of the president when Buhari violated the law.
Asides from President Buhari, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, were seen engaging in a similar display.
Development Diaries condemns the irresponsible and unfortunate acts of the president and other political leaders, and call for their prosecution after they leave office.
We also call on INEC to ensure that more voter education as it relates to electoral offences is carried out.
Photo source: BBC
