Following allegations of voter inducement during last weekend’s Anambra governorship election, a civic organisation, Citizen Monitors, has cautioned against treating vote buying as a normal feature of Nigerian elections.
The Head of Communications at the organisation, Olajumoke Alawode-James, described the election as seemingly calm and orderly on the surface but tainted by widespread allegations of cash exchanges, voter intimidation, and subtle coercion at polling units.
Citizen Monitors said the presence of orderly queues and functioning voting machines does not equate to a credible process if financial inducement remains unchecked.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has dismissed reports of widespread vote buying, insisting that no official complaint or evidence had been submitted.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, also confirmed the arrest of three suspected vote buyers during the poll.