The Edo State Government has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by some indigenes of the state to buy up voters’ cards ahead of the July 14, 2012 governorship election in the state.
According to a statement by the Peter Okhiria, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the government said information reaching it had it that the desperate politicians involved in the plot have deployed money for the purpose.
The state government said the inducement for the voters’ cards will also include gifts and loans.
It also said this was to frustrate the position of the government in the state on One Man One Vote.
The statement reads in full: “This is to inform the general public that information reaching us indicates that some desperate politicians in the state are making efforts to mop up voters’ cards by inducing the people with cash gifts and loans with the sole aim of frustrating the One Man, One Vote principle of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
“The general public, especially registered voters in the state, are advised to ignore these politicians and are reminded that voting is a civic responsibility. Furthermore, Edo State Government, as part of measures to promote the democratic principle of One Man, One Vote, will insist on evidence of voter registration as a yardstick for admission into public schools.
“While we note that it is both a criminal and electoral offence to buy or sell the voter’s card, we are equally concerned that the voters’ cards so procured may be used for other criminal purposes, thus putting the original owners of these cards in trouble.
“We therefore warn these desperate politicians to shun their criminal intentions and also advise registered voters not to sell their voters’ cards to anyone under any guise.
“Finally, politicians engaged in this unwholesome practice are warned to desist henceforth as security operatives have been put on the alert to arrest and prosecute those found to be indulging in the practice.
“We insist that the July 14 gubernatorial election in the state will be based on the time-tested democratic principle of One Man, One Vote only and the people are ready to resist unscrupulous politicians who believe people in the state are for sale.”