The Obidient Movement has raised alarm over what it described as the heavy monetisation of the Anambra governorship election, saying that money has become a major determinant in the voting process across the state.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, the National Coordinator of the movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said the group has deployed its structures across 176,000 polling units nationwide to monitor the conduct of the polls and report irregularities in real time.
“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.”
He lamented that vote buying has become a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s elections, stressing that poverty has been weaponised as a political tool to influence voter choice.
“Well, most importantly, then 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. Because there’s a way, because if you don’t give, nobody will take. So then people will be left with the option of deciding on a credible person to vote for.
“But at the moment, people are offering money even publicly. You will hear this on televisions and social media. People are offering money for this and that and that. And that creates a lot of apprehension in the minds of the people. And truly, today, we have already weaponised poverty in Nigeria as a measure for getting your votes. People are hungry; they don’t doubt about it.”
Responding to questions on whether the Labour Party was also engaging in vote buying, Tanko dismissed the claim, saying the party lacked both the will and the resources to do so.
“No, of course. That’s why we are raising this as an alarm. We are not because we don’t even have the money to do that. And that does not speak well for our own credibility as people who want credible elections and free and fair elections in Nigeria. Obviously, we will not engage in vote buying or, you know, try to manipulate the people using money. We will not do it. We don’t even have the money,” he said.
On Mr Peter Obi’s position regarding the Anambra election, Tanko clarified that the former Labour Party presidential candidate has expressed his support for George Moghalu but insisted that the final decision rests with the people of Anambra.
“It is Anambarians who will decide who becomes their governor. Mr Obi will abide by whatever choice they make,” he said.
The Anambra governorship election, which is being conducted under tight security, has drawn widespread attention amid reports of vote trading and low voter turnout in parts of the state.
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