There are indications that the leading political parties in the Edo governorship election are ready to outdo one another in vote-buying to win the poll scheduled for next Saturday.
Our correspondents gathered that the parties had started amassing “war chests” in a desperate bid to compromise voters.
A highly credible source said the Edo poll could set a new record for vote-buying in the history of elections in the country.
“A vote could go as high as between N15,000 and N20,000. There are plans by agents of some of the parties to mop up voter cards. How they intend to use the cards is what nobody knows. This is why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission are being deployed for the election,” the source added.
Another source confirmed plans by the parties for what he called “heavy vote-buying”.
“I can confirm to you that the parties are ready to do whatever it takes to win this election and that includes paying as high as N20,000 for a vote.
“Unfortunately, doling out of gift items during campaigns has become entrenched in our political system with voters themselves mortgaging their votes for a ‘pot of pottage’. The voters are all partners in crime and what they fail to understand is that collecting gift items and cash from candidates and political parties makes them vulnerable.
“They will not have the moral justification to question the government if it fails in its responsibility to provide developmental projects in the state. After all, they (the electorate) have been paid upfront.
“Unless the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies work together to ensure that citizens are discouraged from selling their votes, this might be an election where the buying of votes becomes an all-time high,” the source added.
Another source urged INEC and security agencies to monitor the activities of parties and their agents on election day.
He said, “I have spoken to some members of two of the leading parties and they said that they are preparing to bring out cash to induce voters. So INEC and security agencies should be ready to combat this.”
Parties already paying voters
A frontline election monitoring organisation, Yiaga Africa, said both the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress had been inducing voters ahead of the election.
Yiaga expressed worry that the parties had abandoned the election mandate and resolved to induce voters with cash and materials.
The Media Officer of the organisation, Jennifer Dafwat, while speaking with Saturday PUNCH, said the group witnessed and documented political parties and politicians distributing cash, presents, and food items to entice voters.
“Election mandates are becoming less credible as a result of this sad trend. These incidents were primarily noticed or heard about in the Uselu market, Egor LGA, where market women received monetary gifts ranging from N1,000 to N2,000 from the APC and PDP parties during their campaign tours.
“Similarly, PDP campaigners gave wrappers to women who joined the campaign gathering in the Amiebonkhian community of Esan North East LGA. In the Ubiaja community of Esan South East LGA, PDP campaigners also gave several store owners shirts, caps, umbrellas, and as much as N2000,” she added.
The Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Conference of Registered Political Party, Samson Isibor, described the plans as unwholesome.
He noted that whoever bought votes did not mean well for the masses. (NEWS EXPRESS)
