As the Anambra South senatorial bye-election moves toward conclusion, allegations of large-scale vote buying have cast a shadow over the process, despite the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) taking an early lead.
Reports from polling units across Nnewi South, Nnewi North, Ihiala, and Ekwusigo Local Government Areas suggest that both APGA and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were allegedly involved in offering voters cash inducements ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦25,000 per vote.
While voting generally proceeded peacefully with a fair turnout similar to the recent Onitsha House of Assembly bye-election, concerns about electoral malpractice dominated public discussions.
At Osumenyi, the hometown of APC’s governorship candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, voters alleged that party agents attempted to influence their choices through financial inducements. A similar situation was also reported in Ukpor, the hometown of APGA’s candidate, Dr. Emma Nwachukwu.
Some voters admitted to receiving money, while others said they turned down the offers. Madam Comfort Okoye, one of the voters in Ihiala, expressed disappointment at the development:
“They came here and gave everybody between ₦10,000 and ₦25,000. There is hunger in the land. Some of us rejected their offers, but others didn’t. It is unfortunate.”
Critics described the situation as a serious blow to democratic values.
“This is a travesty of democracy. It is sad that this is happening in a state where a Professor is Governor. Such desperation amounts to electoral fraud, and we have not seen it on this scale before,” one observer lamented.
Stakeholders have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take note of the allegations and ensure that the integrity of the electoral process is not compromised, particularly in Nnewi South, Nnewi North, Ihiala, and Ekwusigo LGAs where the incidents were most pronounced.
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