Deborah Akinyosoye
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in 2023, Mr. Peter Obi, and the party’s governorship candidate in the ongoing Anambra State election, George Moghalu, have cast their votes, but both expressed concern over widespread vote buying in the state.
As Anambra residents went to the polls to elect a new governor, Obi and Moghalu used the opportunity to highlight what they described as a troubling trend undermining the credibility of the election.
Obi, shortly after casting his vote at Umudimakasi, Agulu Ward 2, Polling Unit 008, where supporters and residents had gathered in anticipation, raised concerns over widespread vote buying in the ongoing Anambra governorship election, revealing that voters are being offered between N20,000 and N30,000 to sell their votes.
He contrasted the situation with other West African countries, saying he had never seen such widespread vote buying elsewhere. Obi also called on journalists to help expose and prevent the practice.
Fielding questions from newsmen, Obi said, “My personal experience is that democracy is deteriorating in our country. Unfortunately, those who are the victims of bad governance seem to be fuelling it.
“I have been able to listen to people around about what is happening today; what you see is that vote buying is on the scale of N20,000 and N30,000. The question I ask is if you sell your vote for N30,000, what is he going to be paid next month? By selling your votes, you’re selling no school, no hospital, and no job; you’re selling away your future, and that is what is very worrisome.
“In other countries, even West African countries that are close to us where I have observed elections, I didn’t see this happen. So you people who are journalists, you must cooperate to save the situation.”
He agreed that he is still a member of the Labour Party and he supports the LP candidate, but that everybody involved in the election are all his brothers and sisters.
“I’m not in the ballot. I was governor 13 years ago, so I’m strictly in the Champions League of Nigerian Politics. I’m contesting to be president of Nigeria. For people who are in the 1st Division, I wish them well. I hope surely they will do very well; whoever wins, let him serve the people.
“Nigeria needs servicemen; we need to pull our people out of poverty. Our people need to know that schools are working; it’s not grandstanding. We need to rebuild the hospitals. That’s why we are supporting nursing schools to be able to produce the manpower that is required for every village to have primary healthcare where people can go to.”
On the new INEC chairman, Obi said that he had congratulated the new INEC chairman and told him to look at what happened to his predecessors.
“All I can say to him is that the name and reputation his children will live with is a test for him in office. So while you’re there, try to serve humanity and society.”
Meanwhile, after voting, Moghalu, who cast his ballot at Polling Unit 017, Uruagu Ward 1, Nnewi North LGA, told journalists that the buying and selling of citizens’ votes was rampant in various communities, with sums ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦15,000.
“Poverty was weaponised for massive vote buying. If you monetise your process and weaponise poverty, what is free about the election?” Moghalu said, stressing that the practice compromises the democratic process.
Both candidates called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a free, fair, and credible election, free from intimidation and the manipulation of vulnerable voters.