Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has stirred controversy after pledging cash rewards for every ward won by his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in the forthcoming November 8 governorship election.
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According to PUNCH, speaking on Saturday during a campaign rally in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, Soludo announced that his party would reward wards that secured victories. He said, “When we were campaigning for the Senate, we knew we were going to win every ward in the South Senatorial Zone, but we still had some incentives. Any ward that APGA won received N1 million, and we won all the wards in Orumba South. We promised each of these wards N1 million, and next week we will redeem it. The ward that comes first will get N5 million, the second N3 million, and the third N2 million. That was the deal. For November 8, any ward that wins again will receive N1 million, while the first three performing wards will get N5 million, N2 million, and N1 million respectively.”
The pledge immediately provoked criticism from opposition parties and civil society organisations, who described it as open inducement and a violation of the Electoral Act. About 2.8 million registered voters are expected to participate in the election, which will feature 16 political parties and their candidates.
Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the South-East, condemned Soludo’s announcement as vote-buying and abuse of office. “Clearly, this is vote-buying and against the electoral law. Soludo has been carrying out undemocratic activities in this election. He has been forcing communities to commit their votes through their leaders. The N1 million offer is just one of many. We will write to INEC, EFCC, police, and other relevant security agencies about his actions,” she said.
Similarly, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC National Publicity Secretary, called for urgent action from INEC, describing the governor’s promise as “a public confession of vote-buying.”
The Labour Party accused the governor of weaponising poverty. Obiora Ifoh, LP National Publicity Secretary, said, “This is not good for democracy. Why is he giving out money now that elections are near? This is vote-buying and manipulation. He has failed in governance and now wants to buy legitimacy with money. We will raise this matter at the next stakeholders’ meeting with INEC.”
Former PDP Zonal Organising Secretary Mike Ahumibe also criticised the move, stating, “Once there is money involved, it is no longer free and fair. Elections should be about the people’s choice, not about who can pay the most.”
Civil society groups described Soludo’s statement as dangerous. Debo Adeniran, Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, said the governor had institutionalised vote-buying and monetised the electoral process in Anambra. “This is reprehensible. Vote-buying is an electoral crime for which the governor could be tried once he relinquishes his immunity. The authorities should stop him. INEC should take exceptional notice and apply the law. His immunity doesn’t cover electoral offences,” Adeniran said.
Alhaji Yabagi Sani, former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, called the governor’s pledge a dangerous precedent that could undermine democratic values. “The statement commercialises the election and is clear rigging. The money he’s talking about is public funds being used to win an election. INEC, the police, and EFCC should ask him to clarify his remarks,” Sani said.
Election monitoring group YIAGA Africa echoed concerns. Jennifer Dafwat, Media and Communication Officer, said, “Vote-buying includes any incentive meant to sway voters’ decisions. What Governor Soludo said clearly falls within that category. Such offers exploit poverty and hunger, turning elections into transactions rather than contests of ideas and competence.”
Reacting to the backlash, Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, dismissed allegations of vote-buying, insisting that the governor’s pledge was meant to motivate supporters. “How does motivation for supporters amount to vote-buying? Vote-buying requires the actual purchase of votes. I do not see anything wrong with a leader motivating his supporters, even if it’s monetary,” he said.
INEC has disclosed plans to deploy over 22,000 ad hoc staff to man polling units across the state for the election. Dr Kenneth Ikeagu, National Commissioner supervising Anambra and Chairman of the Tenders Board Committee, said approximately 540 accredited journalists would cover the process. The state has 5,720 polling units, each staffed by a Presiding Officer and three Assistant Presiding Officers, bringing the total personnel to around 22,800. Supervisory Presiding Officers will oversee activities at ward centres.
Regarding Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection, Ikeagu said the exact number of voters who had collected their PVCs was unavailable, noting the process is still ongoing and will not be extended unless directed by INEC headquarters.
The PVC collection exercise, which began Wednesday, has faced low turnout in several areas, with long queues and insufficient INEC staff slowing the process. Some voters reportedly left without collecting their cards.
Okelo Madukaife, former APC Publicity Secretary and member of the party’s campaign council, acknowledged the process was peaceful but slow. “INEC should deploy more personnel to speed up the process,” he said.
Johnson Okoye, Special Assistant on Media to LP candidate Dr George Moghalu, also criticised INEC for inadequate awareness campaigns. “The PVC remains the only power the people have to determine the future of our state. I encourage every eligible voter to collect theirs,” he said.
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