Anambra Govt dismisses vote-buying claims

The Anambra State Government has explained that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s recent assurance to members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, was aimed at tackling voter apathy, not engaging in vote buying as claimed by opposition parties.

In a statement on Thursday, the Governor’s Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, clarified that the governor’s comments at a political rally were being wrongly interpreted.

He stated that Soludo’s promise to reward wards where APGA performs strongly in the November 8 election was meant to encourage party canvassers to boost voter turnout, rather than offer financial inducements to voters.

“It is essential to understand the context of the statement. The incentives Governor Soludo referred to are legitimate and consistent with democratic practices worldwide,” Aburime said.

He explained that the governor’s message was specifically directed at APGA members and grassroots mobilizers—who represent less than five percent of the electorate and was aimed at motivating them to encourage wider voter participation in the election.

“In politics globally, including in advanced democracies like the United States, parties pay canvassers before elections. In our case, we said any ward that delivers will be rewarded afterwards. This is not vote buying,” Aburime explained.

Quoting the governor, he added: “Don’t sit at home and say Soludo has won.

We have to win when you have voted. We in APGA stand for one man, one vote, transparent, free, and fair election. We are going to cooperate with INEC to make sure this is the freest and most credible election ever conducted.”

Aburime emphasized that Governor Soludo is fully committed to ensuring transparent and credible elections, noting that his administration’s priority is addressing voter apathy, which remains one of the major challenges confronting Nigeria’s democracy.

“The governor’s call is for voters to come out, cast their votes, and ensure results are counted and announced transparently. The idea of rewarding canvassers after the election is simply to encourage greater participation,” he said.

He described the opposition’s allegations of vote buying as “groundless, misleading, and politically motivated,” stressing that Soludo’s track record of achievements and national recognition speaks for itself.

“A governor with such a track record of achievements doesn’t need to buy votes to win re-election,” Aburime stated.

With the November 8 election fast approaching, he further appealed to all political parties to prioritize discussions on issues and policies that affect the lives of Anambra residents, rather than indulging in “mischief and needless distractions.”