Buhari violates electoral act while voting in Daura
In his zeal to prove that he voted for the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, President Muhammadu Buhari violates electoral act as he displayed his ballot to other voters before casting it into the ballot box.
This is a clear violation of the electoral act, which prescribes secret ballots. Section 50, subsection (1) clearly states that “Voting at an election under this Act shall be by open secret ballot”.
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What does this mean?
Well, it is unlikely that President Buhari’s action will result in any punishment. According to our in-house legal expert, “although the Electoral Act provides for a secret ballot, I do not think that it’s a crime to cast vote openly.
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“Neither the Electoral Act nor any other law to my knowledge provides punishment for open voting. I think the brain behind the secret ballot system is to protect people from being victimized for their choice of the vote and casting openly is rather a show of courage than a crime.”.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who arrived in his county home, Daura, Katsina state, ahead of today’s poll displayed his three ballots before placing them into the boxes as voters cheered on.
Then, he told newsmen that he was excited to vote and that he remains optimistic that the election would be free and fair.
He urged the candidates to accept the outcome in good faith and reminded them he had to contest three times until he became successful at the fourth attempt.
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A statement on Friday noted that knowing the importance of every single vote, the President makes sure that all members of his family, members of the entourage, including security, protocol, and other staff are registered to vote in Daura.
Before heading home for the elections, President Buhari had earlier this week actively participated in the campaigns of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and presented the flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as his preferred successor, showcasing his record of statesmanship and contributions to economic development and democracy.