Candidates of the various political parties have decried the high level vote trading in the governorship election held on Saturday.
Governor of the state, Chukwuma Soludo decried incidents of vote buying reported in some polling units in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state.
Soludo said this after he voted at Polling Unit 002, Ofiyi Square, Umueze, Isuofia Ward 13, Aguata Local Government Area, at exactly 1:20 p.m on Saturday.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after voting, the governor commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a peaceful and orderly election process.
Soludo, however, expressed concern over reports of massive vote buying in Nnewi South.
“The only concern we have received is in one or two places in Nnewi South where we understand that there has been massive vote buying. Some voters are being paid as much as N15,000,” he said.
Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) John Nwosu, 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.
Candidate of the Labour Party, George Moghalu also said 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 Obedient 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.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, also alleged widespread vote buying in the election.
Ukachukwu who 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, 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.
Deputy governorship Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Uche Ekwunife, decried what she termed widespread vote buying during the exercise.
Speaking shortly after casting her vote at Polling Unit 001, Nri, in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state, she lamented 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.
Similarly, international and local observers expressed concern over reports of vote buying and low voter turnout in the election.
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.
