By Clifford Ejenavi
As the dust settles on the Anambra State governorship election, allegations of widespread vote buying have once again tainted the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process. Reports from some election observers, civil society groups and local media indicate that some political parties and candidates allegedly engaged in financial inducement of voters at polling units, a practice that undermines the essence of free and fair elections.
Vote buying, the act of offering cash or material rewards to voters in exchange for their ballots has become a recurring menace in Nigerian elections, despite repeated promises by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to curb it. In Anambra, some eyewitnesses claimed that voters were offered sums ranging from N5,000 to N30,000 to vote for specific parties, while others received food items and souvenirs as subtle inducements.
The practice not only compromises the integrity of the electoral system but also erodes public trust in democracy. When votes are bought, governance becomes transactional, with elected officials more accountable to their financiers than to the electorate. This cycle perpetuates corruption, poor leadership and underdevelopment, the very problems Nigeria has been struggling to overcome.
Some stakeholders have therefore called for stronger enforcement of electoral laws. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) must intensify surveillance during elections and ensure that offenders, including politicians, agents and even voters who sell their votes, face the full weight of the law.
In addition, voter education must be prioritized. Civic groups and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) need to reawaken citizens’ consciousness on the value of their votes. A people who trade their votes for cash today will continue to suffer the consequences of bad governance tomorrow.
The time has come for Nigerians, especially the masses, to collectively reject vote buying and embrace integrity in the electoral process. Ending this menace requires courage, vigilance and accountability from all voters, political actors and institutions alike. Only then can the will of the people truly prevail at the ballot box.
