Yusuf Asamah Kadiri, SAN, the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Labour Party in Edo State, has condemned the recently concluded Edo governorship election, labeling it a “transaction galore” and a “bazaar of commoditisation and commercialisation of votes.”
Kadiri accused the major political parties—the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC)—of engaging in widespread vote-buying, while emphasizing that the Labour Party was not involved in such corrupt practices.
While speaking to Arise TV, Kadiri noted that the high level of poverty in Edo State was exploited by political actors on election day.
“The election was nothing short of a jamboree, with electorates being treated like commodities. In some areas, voters received as much as N30,000 in exchange for their votes,” Kadiri said.
According to Kadiri, while the Labour Party remains committed to genuine democratic values and refuses to participate in such unethical practices, the same cannot be said for the PDP and APC.
“It is not in our character to buy votes or manipulate the electoral process. We remain true to our principles and will continue to fight for the interests of the people of Edo State,” he added.
The Labour Party, Kadiri said, was committed to challenging the status quo and standing against the commercialisation of elections, which he described as a threat to democracy.
“We need a system where people’s votes are based on conscience, not cash. What we witnessed on election day was a disgrace to democratic ideals,” he concluded.
The outcome of the Edo governorship election has been widely contested, with allegations of rigging, voter manipulation, and irregularities coming from various quarters.