Fresh reports have surfaced alleging that Anambra State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has allocated a staggering ₦5 million to each polling unit across the state in a desperate attempt to buy votes in the forthcoming November 8 governorship election.
This shocking revelation comes shortly after the governor reportedly embarked on a statewide tour, visiting all communities in the state where he allegedly promised to give millions of naira to the electorate in exchange for their votes; an act that has been widely condemned by well-meaning citizens and pro-democracy advocates.
According to sources within the political circle, agents loyal to the governor have begun moving across communities, allegedly offering cash to voters in exchange for electoral support. Some residents claim they were offered ₦20,000 as an advance payment with a promise of ₦30,000 balance on election day.
The development has generated outrage among voters and civic groups, who insist that such monetary inducement undermines the integrity of the electoral process and ridicules the principles of democracy. Many citizens have openly rejected these offers, maintaining that Anambra — the Light of the Nation — is not for sale.
Observers have described the move as a dangerous trend capable of mortgaging the future of the state for temporary political gain. They warn that turning elections into financial transactions will only promote corruption, weaken governance, and destroy the moral fabric of society.
In reaction, political analysts and concerned stakeholders have urged Ndi Anambra to resist any attempt to buy their conscience or compromise their civic responsibility. They emphasized that selling one’s vote is tantamount to selling one’s future and denying future generations a chance at progress.
The call for resistance is growing louder as Election Day approaches. Citizens are being reminded to uphold the sanctity of their votes and choose leaders based on credibility, capacity, and proven record, not cash inducements.
In a statement jointly written and released by civil society groups in the state, they further called on the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of the forthcoming election to ensure that there is no vote-buying in any part of Anambra State. The groups warned that if such electoral malpractice is allowed to happen unchecked, it could spell doom for Nigeria’s democracy, considering that Anambra is a pacesetting state in political awareness and democratic consciousness.
“Anambra is not for sale. Our votes are our power, and our power is not for auction,” the coalition declared, urging every eligible voter to stand firm in defense of democracy and reject attempts to commercialize the people’s mandate.
