Electoral fraud is democracy’s worst crime – Oshiomhole

Former Edo State Governor and senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has described electoral fraud as the gravest offence in any democratic system, warning that practices such as vote buying and result manipulation destroy public trust in elections.

Speaking on Monday during an interview on News Central’s Politics HQ, Oshiomhole expressed concern over delays in Nigeria’s electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general election.

Reflecting on his 2012 re-election in Edo State, he said he won across all 18 local government areas without resorting to inducements. “My 2012 re-election in Edo State, I won in all the 18 local government areas. I did not give money to anybody,” he said.

Oshiomhole noted that he made his position on vote buying clear to voters at the time. “Instead, I told the voters, if my opponent, who allegedly had money to give you, you can collect it, no receipt, no refund. But I have no money to give you, but I will give you my all in terms of development,” he said.

He stressed that the strength of democracy lies in the credibility of the electoral process. “The worst crime you can commit is to cheat on elections,” he said, adding that democracy gives elected leaders a sense of responsibility to manage public resources “to deliver the greatest good to the greatest number.”

According to him, Nigeria’s existing electoral laws already spell out punishments for electoral offences. “On vote buying, there are penalties. We’ve made provision for it,” he said.

He explained that election officials who tamper with results face serious consequences. “There are penalties for a presiding officer who willfully acts in a manner that undermines the will of the electorate or twists or destroys the ballot sheet… to turn the outcome in favour of the loser,” Oshiomhole said.

He added: “And the penalty is not only monetary, but also a penalty for jail.”

Oshiomhole concluded that sanctions apply across board. “On the side of INEC officials, there are penalties. On the side of the candidates, there are also penalties,” he said.