Anambra By-election: APGA, APC Accused of Vote Buying

An observation of multiple polling units in Nnewi South, Nnewi North, Ihiala, and Ekwusigo Local Government Areas unveiled allegations that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has been purportedly engaging in vote buying, offering sums between N10,000 and N25,000 per vote to voters and potential voters.

Beyond these allegations of electoral malpractice, the election process unfolded peacefully and smoothly, with a commendable turnout at several polling stations, akin to what was observed during the Onitsha House of Assembly By-election.

In Osumenyi, the hometown of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, similar occurrences were reported.

In Ukpor, the native town of the APGA candidate in the by-election, Dr. Emma Nwachukwu, reports echoed the same narrative.

According to a voter, Madam Comfort Okoye, “They arrived here distributing money ranging from N10,000 to N25,000. There is pervasive hunger in the land; while some of us declined their offers, others did not. It is lamentable,” she stated.

“This is a mockery of democracy; it is profoundly disheartening to witness this in a state governed by a Professor. Such desperation equates to electoral fraud. We have not encountered this before.

“We trust and anticipate that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will take judicial note of these unsavory developments in Nnewi South, Nnewi North, Ekwusigo, and Ihiala Local Government Areas, in particular.”