The Obidient Movement on Saturday decried what it described as the heavy monetisation of the Anambra governorship election, alleging that money has become a major factor influencing voter decisions across the state.
Speaking with journalists, the National Coordinator of the movement, Yunusa Tanko, said the group had deployed structures across 176,000 polling units nationwide to monitor the exercise and document irregularities in real time.
Tanko expressed worry that vote buying has continued to undermine the credibility of elections in Nigeria.
He said, “Our agents and coordinators in all local governments are already on ground. But painfully enough, the process, one way or the other, is heavily monetised. That has affected this particular election, both on the part of the candidates and the electorate itself. That’s exactly where the problem lies.”
Lamenting the persistence of vote buying, Tanko said the practice has become entrenched due to poverty and the lack of strong punitive measures against offenders.
He noted, “We must have to find a way of punitive measures for those who engage in actually giving money and for those who even take money. If you don’t give, nobody will take.”
Tanko added that widespread broadcast of political inducements had created anxiety among voters.
He stated, “People are offering money even publicly. You will hear this on television and social media… Truly, today, we have already weaponised poverty in Nigeria as a measure for getting votes. People are hungry; there is no doubt about it.”
LP Not Engaging In Vote Buying — Obidient Coordinator
Responding to claims that the Labour Party was also involved in vote buying, Tanko dismissed the allegations.
He said, “No, of course. That’s why we are raising this as an alarm. We don’t even have the money to do that… We will not engage in vote buying or manipulate the people using money. We don’t even have the money.”
He insisted that the party’s commitment to electoral integrity remained firm.
Tanko also clarified the stance of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on the ongoing governorship race.
According to him, “Mr Obi has expressed his support for George Moghalu but it is Anambarians who will decide who becomes their governor. Mr Obi will abide by whatever choice they make.”
The Anambra governorship contest, featuring 16 candidates, is taking place under tight security across the state, with incidents of vote trading and low turnout reported in some areas.
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