Vote-buying in Ekiti
Vote-buying had always been a thing in Nigeria, but seeing it surface even after such a heightened crusade for PVC was much of a disappointment than it was a surprise.
This carrot and stick method employed by some politicians every election period reared its head again at the Ekiti elections.
Here are the details in full:
Vote Selling-Price
For the presidential elections coming up in 2023 and build-ups like the Ekiti gubernatorial elections- various media and tactics have been used to project the importance of making the right choices.
So when Hassan Ibrahim Dankwambo, a former governor of Gombe State, took to Twitter too, on Tuesday, the 14th of June just to give a “standard” selling price for Nigerians who may be approached by vote buyers to sell their vote–we understood.
According to him, the asking price for your vote as a Nigerian starts from fifty thousand dollars–that’s about 20.8 million in Nigerian naira. In his own way, he was bracing his fellow Nigerians against what was to come.
#Ekiti Decides
Then came the Ekiti governorship elections on Saturday, the 18th of June where people from all 16 local government areas of the southwestern state, trooped out to exercise their voting rights.
It was such a relief for PVC crusaders like ourselves to hear the numbers that came out to vote–well until reports reached us that some Nigerians were caught selling their votes🙂.
The Stubborn Vote Sellers
We don’t know which is more disappointing; the fact that these people were really going to sell their votes or that they had sold their birthright for such ridiculous amounts
As seen on social media, some people claimed they were paid five thousand naira to vote for the vote buyer’s candidate. This made us speechless.
“EFCC” To The Rescue
Well, considering the questionable ways that the EFCC too goes about discharging their official duties, you won’t fault us for being a bit surprised when we heard that they were part of the first responders at the crime scene.
They were said to have apprehended both the buyers and sellers of votes and then perhaps taken them to their custody.
Suspected Foul Play
Speculations are, however, flying around that the “EFCC” are not real EFCC. How is that possible?
We are still unclear on that front and can only hope there is no foul play.
#Updated brings you lists, roundups and the latest news on the hottest topics. This edition highlights all we know about Ekiti state and the recent vote buying episode
