Some International and local observers have expressed concern over reports of vote buying and low voter turnout during Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State.
Reports from Yiaga Africa, European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) II and other partner organisations indicated that voter turnout was low in most polling units across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Speaking to newsmen in Awka, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Mr Samson Itodo, identified vote buying and low turnout as recurring issues observed in the thematic areas of the election.
Also, Ms Asabe Ndahi of the Kukah Centre decried logistical challenges, including late arrival of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security officials in high-risk areas such as Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Ihiala, Ogbaru, and Nnewi South.
She added that incidents of vote buying and voter intimidation were recorded in several local government areas.
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) says the Anambra governorship election was marred by vote buying and apathy.
Prof. Ernest Aniche, at Election Analysis Centre, CDD-West Africa said this during the preliminary report on the election after monitoring the process in the 21 Local Government Area on Saturday.
Aniche said that the election raised concerns about voter apathy, low electoral competitiveness and the fragility of key electoral institutions blaming the apathy on public distrust in INEC post-2023, fears of violence or manipulation and intra-party divisions.
CDD-EAC said that 72.2 per cent of polling units opened on time, with officials present before 8:30 am, 19.5 per cent opened between 8:30 am and 9:00 am, while 1.5 per cent began operations after 9:00 am.
“However, 5.4 per cent of polling units experienced significant delays, with officials arriving after 10:00 am.
“These figures reflect generally effective early deployment by INEC across most areas.
““Party agents offered voters up to N10,000 and N5,000, depending on the location. For example, in Achina and in Aguata LGA, agents distributed N5,000 and N2,000 payments to voters.
In Anambra South, similar patterns were recorded. At Ichi in Ekwusigo LGA, and Achina in Aguata LGA, with agents distributing cash payments ranging from ₦2,000 to ₦5,000 in rooms situated directly across polling units.
“At Igboukwu, party agents were seen distributing between N5,000 and N10,000 to voters openly, without any response or deterrent from security personnel,” he said.
The CDD West Africa said INEC failed to visibly display the zero count in some locations and for strict compliance with operational guidelines.
It said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) failed to capture thumbprints in some cases without corrective measures in place.
On Security, CDD said personnel were present at 87.3 per cent of polling units observed while 12.7 per cent recorded no security presence at the time of observation.
“In locations where officers were deployed, the security presence consisted of an average of three to four officers per unit, contributing to a calm and orderly voting environment in most cases.
“Polling units with fewer registered voters showed inadequate security coverage, which aligns with the 12.7 per cent of polling units that had no security personnel present,” he said.
The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Uche Ekwunife, raised the alarm over what she termed widespread vote buying during the exercise.
Ekwunife spoke shortly after casting her vote at Polling Unit 001, Nri, in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
She noted that despite repeated warnings by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies against electoral malpractices, vote buying still took place on a large scale.
According to her, credible intelligence from the field indicates distribution of huge sums of money to polling units to influence voters.
She described the development as a dangerous setback for Nigeria’s democratic process and a betrayal of the people’s will.
“Many voters in the state were pressured through financial inducements into voting against their conscience.
“It is disheartening that instead of allowing the people to freely choose their leaders, some political actors have chosen to corrupt the process with money.
“This kind of monetisation of democracy must stop if we truly want progress in Anambra and Nigeria at large,” she said.
Ekwunife, however, commended the impressive turnout of voters, saying it was a strong indication that Anambra people wanted accountability and good governance.
“The enthusiasm of the electorate today shows that our people are tired of bad governance and economic stagnation.
“I am confident that APC will emerge victorious because the people are yearning for a new direction,” she said.
The APC deputy governorship candidate urged INEC officials and security agencies to remain vigilant, impartial and firm in ensuring that the election outcome reflected the genuine will of the people rather than the influence of money or intimidation.
Mr John Nwosu, candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Anambra governorship election condemned the alleged vote buying and selling during the exercise.
Nwosu, who spoke after voting at Oduda Central Primary School, Nnewi-Ichia Ward 2, precisely expressed concern over what he called the ‘increasing incidence of vote trading.’
He described it as a ‘grave threat’ to democracy and the will of the people.
He alleged that huge sums of money were deployed to polling units in Nnewi to undermine his chances in the election.
Nwosu maintained that his campaign remains rooted in integrity and principle.
“I’d rather stand by integrity and lose honourably than buy votes to win,” he said.
Also speaking, Chief Charles Ezeani, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anaocha said voting did not commence at his centre until about 11:15 a.m due to late arrival of electoral officials and materials.
Ezeani, who voted at Polling Unit 009 Neni Ward 2, corroborated the allegation of vote buying.
“It was so brazen: unfortunately it happened while the security personnel looked on,” he alleged.
The Labour Party governorship candidate, Dr George Moghalu, said that the election was over policed and marred by vote buying.
Addressing newsmen at a press briefing in his residence in company of the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Yunisa Tanko, Moghalu lamented the quantum of vote buying during the election.
According to him, the election was highly monitored, and mobilised in such a way that electorate became confused and declined to vote until they were given money.
“I had said that I will not speak much on the issue until the conclusion of the process.
“I am somebody that does not speak on assumption. I speak with facts, I don’t speak because I have opportunity to speak.
“I will speak after I have received the reports from those I deployed to 320 wards in Anambra. But I have not seen vote buying in this quantum,” he said.
On the deployment of security, he said that more than five Deputy Inspectors-General of Police were deployed to Anambra.
He urged the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to redeem the image of the commission and make a statement with the election.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Nicholas Ukachukwu, alleged widespread vote buying.
Ukachukwu made the allegation in an interview shortly after casting his vote at Polling Unit 012, Umudimala Amaihe Hall, Osumenyi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state.
The APC candidate specifically accused the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of vote buying across all polling units.
“From what I have been hearing, there has been reports of hitches and security challenges but largely, there have been vote buying.
“That has become the biggest menace that will witch hunt this country to a standstill. It will come to a point where leaders, who have the opportunity to be in power, will not be able to do anything,” he said.
Ukachukwu said that from one or two places that his people had visited, there were many things going on, including vote buying.
“It is a collective treasury that has been looted and given back to people to get back their mandate. It is a bad thing that everybody should condemn.
“So far, there has been no report of death or any major incidence of mishap,” he added.
The APC governorship candidate called for collective condemnation of what he called a bad practice, urging security agencies to live up to their responsibility of curb electoral fraud.
He also claimed that one of his party agents was beaten up in Utuh in Nnewi South Local Government Area.
Ukachukwu, however, said that exercising his civic right was a proof that he was qualified to vote and be voted for.
In spite of the vote buying allegations, he expressed the confidence that his party would win the election.
“I believe God that winning is still possible because the day is still young,” he stated.
Ukachukwu commended INEC for the early arrival of materials and officials, which he said had improved the electoral process in the state.
