Deborah Akinyosoye
As Anambra electorates head out to determine the state’s next leadership, Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his wife, Nonye Soludo, cast their votes at 1:20 p.m. on Saturday at their polling unit in Isuofia.
Soludo, careful to keep his voter card secure, retrieved it from an envelope before casting his ballot. After voting, he encouraged fellow Anambrarians to participate in the election, describing the voting process at his unit as “smooth and well-organized.”
However, speaking to journalists after casting his vote, the governor alleged that a political party candidate has been engaging in vote buying, aiming to influence voters at his polling unit.
Earlier in the day, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, and the party’s governorship candidate, George Moghalu, had also cast their votes. Both had raised concerns about widespread vote buying across various communities in the state, alleging that monetary inducements ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 naira were being offered to voters.
As Anambra citizens continue to cast their ballots, the focus remains on ensuring a free, fair, and transparent election amid growing concerns over vote buying and electoral malpractice.