The former Governor of Anambra State and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed dismay over widespread vote buying in the ongoing governorship election, saying it undermines Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking after casting his vote at Umudim Akasi, Agulu Ward 2, Polling Unit 008, Obi lamented that voters are selling their votes for ?20,000 to ?30,000, compromising their future and the state’s development.
“My personal experience is that democracy is deteriorating in Nigeria. Unfortunately, those who are the victims of bad governance seem to be fuelling it,” Obi said.
“A young man who is unemployed sells his vote for ?30,000, what is his future? By selling his vote, he’s selling no school, no hospital, no job, he’s selling his future”.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that as the Anambra State governorship election continued across the state, allegations of widespread vote-buying have sparked outrage.
This was as the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Ifemelu “Ifemeludike” Chioma, condemned the practice.
She had also called for severe punishment for both buyers and sellers of votes.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), @ife_dike, on Saturday, the outspoken actress decried reports of voters selling their ballots for as little as ?5000 at several polling units.
She described the development as a shameful stain on democracy and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to immediately apprehend those involved.
“I just got a report from my polling unit search light that vote buying is heavily happening across polling units in the Anambra state Governorship elections. I call on security agencies and Inec to get these party agent paying voters N5,000 for their conscience,” She stated.
Ifemeludike, known for her vocal stance on social justice, lamented that the continuous exchange of money for votes undermines Nigeria’s democracy and perpetuates bad governance.
“This very act is destroying our society and it is totally unacceptable,” she said.
She further called for decisive action from the security agencies and the electoral body.
“Voters selling their votes for as little as N5,000 and whoever buying should be sentenced to life imprisonment. This act criminalises both the electorate and politicians, it obstructs accountability in governance and demonises leaders in power.
“This practice must be proscribed and eradicated for true and patriotic leaders to pave way for the needed change we seek in our society. I call on @inecnigeria and the Nigerian police force to arrest any individual or group of people enforcing this abominable act,” she added.
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