In what can be described as flexing of financial muscles, the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, are engaging in vote buying in the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by-election in Anambra State.
While APGA is working to install a replacement for the late lawmaker, Hon Justice Azuka, ADC is fighting to help the deceased lawmaker’s wife, Mrs Justina Azuka, to replace her husband.
Despite being regarded as a small electoral contest, the Onitsha North 1 by-election has proven to be a tough one, as the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo, is striving to prove a point with the election in a bid to show popularity ahead of the governorship poll in November.
On the other hand, ADC is using the election to test its strength especially as one of the coalition leaders, Mr Peter Obi, is from the state and has also thrown his weight behind the widow.
In the Omagba area, APGA agents were giving out as much as N10,000 to each voter to secure votes, while the ADC is giving out N5,000.
A source, Mr Ikechukwu Orji, who witnessed the development, said: “So far the election is going well, I have not witnessed any violence but here in Omagba and Osuma wards, we have seen party agents openly canvassing for votes.
“It is not a hidden thing, APGA is paying N10,000 per vote while ADC is paying N5,000.”
Another source who refused to disclose his name said the money “is surely coming from both Soludo and Peter Obi”, insisting that the candidates themselves do not have such money to spare.