Nigerian Senatorial Candidate Decries Widespread Vote-Buying in Anambra State By-Election
In a concerning revelation, Oforbuike Okoli-Egbo, the senatorial candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Anambra State, Nigeria, has alleged that the recent by-election in the state was marred by rampant vote-buying. In an interview on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics, Okoli-Egbo claimed that voters were paid between N15,000 and N20,000 to cast their ballots, a practice that undermines the credibility of the electoral process.
This development, according to Okoli-Egbo, marks a significant departure from past elections in Anambra State, where such financial inducements were not as prevalent. He expressed concern that the widespread vote-buying had compromised the integrity of the by-election, stating, “What happened in Anambra is a heavily financially induced election. It has never been known that a voter is paid over N15,000 to N20,000 to cast their vote. That was what transpired.”
Okoli-Egbo specifically accused the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of engaging in heavy financial inducement to sway voters. Despite this, he maintained that his party, the YPP, retained a strong base in the state, citing past electoral victories as evidence of its influence.
The allegations of vote-buying have raised concerns about the state of democracy in Nigeria, where elections have often been marred by such practices. The incident highlights the need for electoral reforms and increased transparency in the electoral process to prevent such abuses.
As the country continues to grapple with the challenges of ensuring free and fair elections, Okoli-Egbo’s revelations serve as a reminder of the need for concerted efforts to address the problem of vote-buying and promote credible democratic practices in Nigeria.
