.webp)
According to Punch, the allegation, sparked tension at the polling unit as opposition agents publicly protested what they described as efforts by suspected APC intermediaries to distribute cash to voters.
According to an opposition agent who spoke on condition of anonymity, individuals approached voters on the queue and allegedly offered ₦1,000 in exchange for their support.
“Some people we suspect to be APC intermediaries came to speak with voters. They were giving ₦1,000, but we openly rejected and spoke against it. That was why the situation became unruly for a while, but calm was restored after they left,” the agent said.
An ADC agent also condemned the development, questioning the presence of security personnel at the scene.
“They are sharing ₦1,000 per voter and security personnel are watching. How can such a thing be allowed? We will not tolerate it,” the agent said.
The confrontation briefly disrupted the orderly queue, with voters exchanging heated words along party lines. At one point, a voter appealed to the protesting agents, saying their actions could lead to the cancellation of the polling unit’s results.
Normal voting activities later resumed after security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps reinforced order and monitored the process.
Commercial activities around the polling area were largely shut down due to the elections, with most businesses closed except for essential services such as the Nyanya General Hospital.
Allegations of vote buying have become a recurring feature of elections in Nigeria, raising concerns about the integrity of the country’s democratic process. Electoral observers, civil society organisations, and the Independent National Electoral Commission have repeatedly warned that the practice undermines free and fair elections by influencing voters through financial inducements.
Vote buying often involves the distribution of cash, food items, or other material benefits to voters at polling units or through intermediaries. The practice is particularly prevalent in tightly contested local and off-cycle elections, where political actors seek to mobilise support through direct incentives.
Despite provisions in Nigeria’s Electoral Act that criminalise voter inducement and prescribe penalties for offenders, enforcement has remained a major challenge.
Poverty, unemployment, and weak monitoring mechanisms have been identified by analysts as factors that make voters vulnerable to financial influence.
In recent years, election monitoring groups have also reported the evolution of more discreet methods of inducement, including coded transactions, electronic transfers, and the use of agents stationed near polling centres.
As Nigeria continues efforts to strengthen its electoral system, stakeholders have called for stricter enforcement of electoral laws, improved voter education, and stronger accountability mechanisms to curb the menace and restore public confidence in the democratic process.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com