INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner who worked in Ilorin during the last election, Malam Garba Madami, has shared his experience working in that capacity in the state.
He made the revelation while speaking with newsmen during his daughter’s wedding in Minna, last weekend.
Madami stated that politicians consistently tempted him with money, put him under unnecessary pressure, but he was able to shrug off the temptations.
According to Madami, “There was pressure by politicians who offered me money to compromise the 2019 general elections in Kwara state but I stood my ground and refused to give in.
“The nature of our job at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is too tempting.
“It is left between you and God to do the right thing and keep your integrity or compromise and lose your integrity. You may even go to jail.”
He equally lamented that Politicians in the state are of the opinion that they can easily sway INEC officials with their money, and get them to carry out election rigging.
Madami said, “The politicians have money and some of them feel that they can buy anybody with the money. “It is a matter of integrity, it is left for you to be careful and work transparently to keep your integrity.
“What I did in Kwara state before the elections were to go on air and tell the people that no amount of money can buy me.
“I made them to understand that their votes will count and was not ready to compromise,” he said.
He further stressed parties have failed to exercise democracy internally, and that is the reason why there are 765 petitions in election tribunal, following the 2019 Elections
Madami reiterated, “If the various political parties respect their constitutions and do the needful you will have less to worry about.”
On INEC’s preparedness, he commented, “All the personnel and departments are functioning, in other words, INEC is working.”
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