The governorship election in Anambra State held on Saturday was marred by irregularities, especially allegations of massive vote buying.
DAILY POST reports that about 15 political parties slugged it out on Saturday with the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who contested for re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
Major contenders included Soludo of APGA, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Jude Ezenwafor of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and George Moghalu of the Labour Party, LP.
While the turnout in several local government areas were not bad, reports of vote buying and pockets of violence in some polling units marred the exercise.
Vote buying
Several party leaders and candidates alleged vote buying in polling units across the state despite a series of warnings by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the law enforcement agencies.
It was alleged that some party agents were paying between N20,000 and N30,000 to electorates, to vote for their candidates.
Voters around Awka South, alleged that APGA gave them N5,000 while APC offered as high as N10,000 to induce votes.
We heard that some parties are giving people N10,000 to N15,000 – Soludo
Governor Soludo, who cast his vote in his Ofiyi Square, polling unit 002, Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area, raised the alarm, stating that some parties were buying votes in Nnewi South LG.
“We have also received reports about Nnewi South Local Government Area, where someone was sharing N15,000 for each vote, maybe because he is desperate to win in that local government.
“I heard it and I said, don’t mind. Even if they share N100,000, let the people just vote and let the votes count. We are fairly convinced that on the basis of one man one vote, we are going to win landslide, there is not question about that”, he said
We were given N1000 to vote – Voter confirmed cash inducement
A voter in Obosi, Idemili North LG, who spoke with the Anambra Broadcasting Cooperation, ABS, alleged that they were given N1000 before voting.
Some voters could also be heard in the broadcast expressing dissatisfaction, describing the amount as “too small”.
Our democracy is deteriorating – Peter Obi on vote buying
The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, who cast his vote at polling units 019, Umudim Akasi, Agulu ward two, Anaocha LG also lamented vote buying, saying Nigeria’s democracy is in trouble.
According to the former governor of Anambra State, “Our democracy is deteriorating, and unfortunately, those who are benefiting from bad governance seem to be fueling it.
“I have been able to listen and move around to see what is happening, and it’s bad that we still experience vote buying.
“Some one who is not employed will collect N30,000 for his vote, that means you have sold your school, your hospital, your job opportunities and sold away your future, and that is what is very worrisome about our democracy”.
The situation is scandalous – LP candidate
The candidate of the Labour Party in the election, George Moghalu, also raised the alarm, alleging that vote-buying was rampant in some parts of the state.
Moghalu, who spoke while addressing newsmen at his residence in Nnewi North LG, described the situation as scandalous.
“The situation is scandalous and very embarrassing. The issue of vote-buying is no more a speculation.
“It happened very aggressively in the last by-election. This time around, I’ve been receiving reports of the same thing happening,” he said.
Moghalu further stated that he expects security agencies to clamp down on those involved.
“With the quantity of security personnel that has been brought into Anambra state for the purposes of this election, I expect that vote-buyers by now should have been caught and stopped,” he said.
EFCC arrests three suspected vote buyers
At least three persons were arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged vote buying during the exercise.
According to the anti-graft agency, one Emeka Ilokasia was arrested at Ward 2, Njikoka LG while attempting to buy votes.
Similarly, Nwachuwu Loretta was taken into custody at Ward 2 (008), Awkuzu, Oyi LGA, while Emuka Chuwudi was arrested at Umunachi village in Dukonukofia LGA.
EFCC said in a terse statement that the suspects “will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded”.
Violence by political thugs
Although the security situation in Anambra, especially during the election, looked good, there were reports of violence in some parts of the state.
In the Nri community, the stronghold of the deputy governorship candidate of APC, Senator Uche Ekwunife, some young men suspected to be political thugs invaded the community and tried to manipulate the process.
They were, however, countered by loyalists of the senator, leading to violence in the area but was later quelled by security personnel.
Similarly, there was a report of an attack by gunmen at Owerre Ezukala community in Orumba South Local Government Area, where a man identified as a councillor in the community was shot, while attempting to cast his vote.
Soludo in early lead as INEC uploads 99% results
At about 11pm on Saturday night, INEC had uploaded 99% of the election results on its Results Viewing Portal.
With the results so far, the incumbent Governor is leading APC and other candidates.
Meanwhile, results are still being collated.