Governorship Candidate Accuses Election of Widespread Vote Buying
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the recent Anambra State election, John Chuma Nwosu, has rejected the re-election of Governor Charles Soludo, calling the poll a national embarrassment. He claims the election was marred by widespread vote buying and other irregularities.
Governor Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was declared the winner of the election held on Saturday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), securing a second term in office. However, Nwosu, the ADC candidate, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the process, stating that it did not meet democratic standards.
Nwosu alleged that voters across many polling units were openly induced with cash ranging from N3,000 to N20,000. “What took place yesterday was a ruse and a subversion of the people’s will. The election was marred by massive vote buying and shameless financial inducement at polling units across the state. By every account, the people have not spoken,” he said in his official reaction.
He emphasized that the alleged widespread inducement robbed the election of legitimacy, stating, “True victory is judged not by the outcome, but by the integrity of the process.” Nwosu maintained that an election “riddled with corruption, manipulation, and vote trading cannot and will never represent the voice of the people.”
While he declined to comment on whether he would challenge the result in court, Nwosu said his rejection of the outcome was based on principle rather than personal ambition. “Our mission has never been about winning at all costs. It was about redefining governance and building a new Anambra anchored on values, transparency, elimination of corruption, and a secure state driven by the innovative use of technology,” he stated.
Criticism of Election Oversight Institutions
The ADC flagbearer also criticized institutions responsible for election oversight, accusing them of failing to protect the sanctity of the ballot. “When the system fails to uphold fairness, it loses the moral right to declare winners,” he said, calling for urgent reforms to end what he described as the “culture of electoral corruption.”
Nwosu warned that the alleged vote trading has damaging long-term consequences for democracy. “The conscience of our democracy has been wounded. When votes are bought, the future is sold. What we witnessed was not the expression of choice, but the triumph of desperation and greed over justice and fairness,” he said.
Despite rejecting the poll outcome, Nwosu praised his supporters, campaign team, and party volunteers for what he called their resilience and integrity during the election. “You are the true defenders of democracy. We will not surrender. We will not be silent. Our movement will keep pressing until the people of Anambra can freely choose their leaders without fear or inducement,” he told them.
Key Issues Raised by the ADC Candidate
- Alleged Vote Buying: Nwosu claimed that voters were offered cash incentives ranging from N3,000 to N20,000.
- Lack of Democratic Standards: He argued that the election failed to meet basic democratic criteria.
- Corruption and Manipulation: The ADC candidate highlighted concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
- Call for Reforms: Nwosu urged immediate changes to address the culture of electoral corruption.
- Resilience of Supporters: He acknowledged the efforts of his team and supporters in maintaining the principles of democracy.