The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner in charge of Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti states, Prof. Lai Olurode, has lamented the huge cost of organising elections in Nigeria.
Olurode said the monetisation of elections makes political office seekers spend so much before winning, noting that the scenario may encourage corruption.
The National Commissioner deplored a situation in which politicians sell their property in a bid to finance their election.
He spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, yesterday during the presentation of certificates of return to winners of the National Assembly election.
Those who received their certificates of return are Senators-elect Mrs. Fatima Rasaki (Ekiti Central), Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti South) and Mr. Duro Faseyi (Ekiti North).
House of Representatives members-elect Kehinde Agboola (Oye/Ikole), Segun Adekola (Ikere/Ise Orun/Ekiti Southwest), Olamide Oni (Ekiti West/Inero/Efon) Akin Awodumila (Emure/Gbonyin/Ekiti East), Thaddeus Aina (Ido Osi/ Moba/Ilejemeje) and Ayo Oladimeji (Ado/Irepodun Ifelodun) also collected their certificates at the ceremony.
Olurode added that Nigeria cannot do without deployment of security operatives
He said: “We are not yet there; you can’t do elections without deployment of a large number of security agencies to the field. It cannot continue to be like that.
“The cost of organising elections in this country is quite huge compared to what the cost is in other countries.
“America does not spend as much as an average lawmaker spends on an election in this country.
“After spending all these money, where are you going to get it back from if not from the public purse?
“It is so costly to do elections in the country because every process has been monetised.”