A civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, has accused some politicians of inducing voters with money, food items, and fertilisers during the Ondo governorship election.
The group described these actions as a threat to democracy and called on security agencies to address the situation urgently.
“Politicians Are Buying Votes,” Yiaga Africa Warns
Paul James, Yiaga Africa’s Election Programme Manager, raised the alarm during an interview on Arise TV.
He revealed that voter inducement had been ongoing since the campaigns began in October.
“We saw glimpses of vote buying in the buildup to the election,” he said.
“Politicians, in their usual theatrics, were giving voters between N2,000 and N5,000 at campaign rallies. There was also the distribution of food items.”
James also highlighted instances of fertiliser distribution to farmers, which he said blurred the line between palliatives and vote buying.
Security Agencies Must Act
Yiaga Africa called on security agencies and anti-corruption bodies to monitor and stop vote-buying activities.
“We have called out to the anti-graft agencies and the Nigeria Police to keep an eye on the process,” James said.
He urged them to apprehend offenders and bring them to justice.
“What we fear is that politicians may be saving resources to buy votes on election day,” he added.
INEC Urged to Collaborate with Security Agencies
The group also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to work closely with security personnel.
James stressed the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the election.
“We don’t want this to be territorialised,” he said.
He expressed disappointment at instances where security officers refused to act, claiming they needed INEC’s approval.
“We expect officers to be professional in the discharge of their duties,” he said.
Ondo Governorship Election: The Contenders
The Ondo governorship race features three major contenders.
Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is seeking to retain the state for his party.
Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is campaigning on promises of better governance and accountability.
Abbas Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) is also a strong contender, with support from grassroots movements.
Vote Buying: A Persistent Problem in Nigerian Elections
Vote buying has remained a recurring issue in Nigerian elections.
Observers say the practice undermines democracy and erodes public trust in the electoral process.
James pointed out that many campaigns began late, raising concerns about the real intentions of some politicians.
“We observed that most campaigns didn’t start until the middle of October,” he said.
“This delay suggests they may be prioritising vote buying over genuine engagement with voters.”
Civil Society Demands Accountability
Yiaga Africa’s warning adds to growing calls for transparency in the electoral process.
The organisation insists that voters deserve free and fair elections, devoid of manipulation.
“We need to hold politicians accountable for their actions,” James said.
He warned that failure to address vote buying could set a dangerous precedent.
