The Anambra State governorship election held on Saturday was marked by widespread reports of vote buying, operational hitches, and isolated incidents of unrest, despite the heavy deployment of security operatives across the state.
Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi described the scale of vote trading as a product of bad governance, saying that the practice undermines the nation’s democracy.
“It is sad that bad governance is fuelling vote buying and selling,” Obi said after casting his vote at Polling Unit 019 in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area.
“For an unemployed youth who sells his vote for ₦30,000, what will he be paid next month when there is no election? By selling your vote, you are saying no school, no hospital, no jobs and selling away your future.”
Obi called on journalists to help expose those involved in vote trading, while noting that all the candidates in the race were his friends. “Whoever wins, let him serve the people. Nigeria needs service now. We need to pull our people out of poverty,” he added.
Similarly, Chioma Ifemeludike, the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), decried what she called “rampant vote buying,” alleging that some voters sold their votes for between ₦3,000 and ₦5,000.
“There’s no election. There are practical transactions going on. They write your name, and then you proceed to another section where people meet,” she said in a video posted on her Instagram page. “These women, these elders, are selling their votes as little as ₦3,000, ₦5,000. And it’s well supervised by public agents. It’s a cooperative transaction happening here. I saw it. It’s appalling.”
Ifemeludike urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force to prosecute anyone caught buying or selling votes. “Voters selling their votes for as little as ₦5,000—and whoever is buying—should be sentenced to life imprisonment,” she said, warning that such acts “obstruct accountability in governance and demonise leaders in power.”
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, accused the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of instigating tension at polling centres in Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area.
She said, “The unprovoked tension was caused by thugs allegedly hired by APGA with the intention to disrupt the voting process in my centre. Thankfully, Nri youths and security agents acted swiftly to restore calm.”
Ekwunife also lamented the prevalence of vote buying across polling units. “Why the use of political inducement to sway voters? Representatives of major political parties were seen openly giving money to voters. This is an eyesore. If not checked, competent individuals will find it hard to emerge as leaders,” she said.
However, APGA’s chairman in Anaocha LGA, Chief Anthony Ugorji, denied the allegations, though he confirmed reports of unrest. “APGA did not send anyone to disrupt the election. The situation was brought under control, and the process continued smoothly,” he said.
In Nnewi South, APC governorship candidate Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu won convincingly in his polling unit at Umudiala village, securing 108 votes to APGA’s four in one booth and 126 votes to APGA’s six in another.
Elsewhere, tension rose in Njikoka Local Government Area after an INEC presiding officer, Miss Blessing Egoigwe, fainted amid confusion caused by malfunctioning BVAS machines. The incident occurred at Polling Unit 005, Enugwu-Ukwu, leaving over 470 voters unable to cast their ballots.
“My hope to vote for a candidate of my choice was dashed by INEC today,” lamented Blessing Okoye, an 18-year-old first-time voter. Another voter, Mrs. Ifeoma Iloeze, 55, said she was unable to vote even after waiting all day because the BVAS failed to recognise her face.
The malfunctioning devices triggered frustration among voters, while some observers reported seeing names of deceased persons on the voter register.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) later confirmed the arrest of three suspects for vote buying in different parts of the state.
According to the EFCC, the suspects — Emeka Ilokasia (Njikoka LGA), Nwachukwu Loretta (Awkuzu, Oyi LGA), and Emuka Chuwudi (Umunachi, Dunukofia LGA) were caught in the act and will face prosecution after investigations.
As of 9 p.m. on Saturday, INEC had uploaded over 98% of the results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV), with collation still ongoing in several local government areas.
Despite the incidents, security operatives were credited with maintaining relative calm across most parts of the state, allowing voting to continue in many disrupted areas.
