Less than 24 hours before the Ekiti governorship election, the Ekiti Renaissance Movement (ERM) launched a voter sensitisation campaign against vote-buying and vote-selling across the state’s 16 local government areas.

The group urged residents to protect the sanctity of their votes by rejecting electoral inducements and making informed choices at the polls.

The campaign, which traversed several parts of Ado-Ekiti, engaged traders, motorists, commuters and other residents on the dangers of exchanging votes for money or other incentives.

The sensitisation covered major locations, including Bank Road, GRA, Ilawe Road, Falegan, Omisanjana Junction, Irona, Oke Bola, Ajilosun, Agric Olope, Ijigbo Junction, Matthew, Poly Road, Ureje, Odo-Ado, Mugbagba, Oke Iyinmi, Bisi Market, the Stadium area, Dalimo and the State Hospital, among others.

Speaking during the campaign, the group’s leader, Olanrewaju Ojuoluwa, said the exercise aimed to encourage voters to reject vote-buying and vote-selling.

“The future of Ekiti is worth far more than any amount of money offered for a vote. We are urging every eligible voter to reject vote buying and vote selling and make choices based on competence, integrity and the collective interest of the state,” he said.

Mr Ojuoluwa said the campaign formed part of the group’s efforts to build a politically conscious electorate capable of making informed decisions.

He added that credible elections could only be achieved when citizens understood the power of their votes and refused to exchange them for temporary benefits.

“This campaign is about empowering citizens with the knowledge that their votes are their voices. A credible election begins with an informed electorate that cannot be manipulated through financial inducements,” he said.