Allegations of Vote Buying in Anambra State Election
The governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the ongoing Anambra State election, Chioma Ifemeludike, has raised serious concerns about the conduct of the poll. She claims that there was widespread vote buying during the election process.
In a video shared on her Instagram page on Saturday, Ifemeludike alleged that some voters were selling their votes for as little as ₦3,000 to ₦5,000. She stated that the exercise was being “supervised” by unidentified agents, which she described as alarming.
She said, “What is happening now? There’s no election. There are practical transactions going on. They write your name, and then you proceed to another section where people meet. When you look around, these are people going through physical hardship—you can almost touch it.”
Ifemeludike further expressed her dismay at the sight of elderly women and men allegedly selling their votes. She added, “These women, these elders, are selling their votes as little as ₦3,000, ₦5,000. And it’s well supervised by people who are public agents. They have sections, people all over the place. It’s a cooperative transaction happening here. I saw it. It’s appalling.”
She continued, “At this point, I don’t even think it’s safe for anyone who is in opposition here. It’s highly dominated by transactional elements. This is wicked. This is unacceptable.”
Ifemeludike called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force to take immediate action against those involved in vote trading. She emphasized the need for strict measures to address this issue.
In another post, Ifemeludike wrote, “Voters selling their votes for as little as ₦5,000—and whoever is buying—should be sentenced to life imprisonment. This act criminalises both the electorate and politicians, obstructs accountability in governance, and demonises leaders in power.”
She continued, “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.”
Current Status of the Election Results
As of press time, a live check by our correspondent at 7:16 p.m. showed that the Independent National Electoral Commission had uploaded about 96.77 per cent of results from Saturday’s Anambra State governorship election to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
This indicates that the majority of the results have been processed and made available for public viewing. However, the allegations of vote buying raise significant concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the fairness of the outcome.
Calls for Transparency and Accountability
The allegations made by Ifemeludike highlight the urgent need for transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The involvement of public agents in facilitating vote buying is a serious violation of democratic principles and undermines the credibility of the election.
It is imperative that INEC and the Nigerian Police Force investigate these claims thoroughly and take appropriate actions to ensure that the election is conducted fairly and without undue influence. The voices of the voters should be protected, and the democratic process should be upheld at all costs.
Conclusion
The situation in Anambra State underscores the challenges faced in maintaining free and fair elections. While the majority of the results have been uploaded, the allegations of vote buying cannot be ignored. It is crucial for all stakeholders to work together to ensure that the election reflects the true will of the people.