AS two million voters head to the ballot box, today, to decide who will be the next governor of Ondo State from a crowd of 17 candidates, many observers are worried over the role money will play.
There are concerns that vote-buying and selling will shape the exercise. Saturday Vanguard’s checks show that one of the parties has budgeted N25,000 to N30,000 to buy a vote in some “prime” locations.
To achieve this, it was further gathered that account details of potential voters had been collected. Comments among the people here in Ondo show the level they have lost confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process. They fear that their votes may not count. Only the money attraction may prevent unprecedented voter apathy.
Disturbed by the issue, a host of stakeholders have cautioned political parties, candidates and the citizenry against vote-trading.
Those who have kicked against vote-trading and urged security agencies to be on guard against the festering menace include the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee; Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC; and a host of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs.
Battle of two Akeredolu’s former deputies
Today’s governorship election going to be a fierce battle between two former deputy governors of the state, brothers and age long friends-Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress, APC; and Hon Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
The balloting across 3,933 polling units 203 wards, and 18 LGAs has panned out as battle between the two major political parties, APC and PDP with three other parties -Labour Party, LP; Social Democratic Party, SDP; Zenith Labour Party, ZLP trailing behind.
Vote-trading, which has become a recurring decimal in the nation’s politics is one of the obstacles to the quest for free and fair elections.
Saturday Vanguard learned that one of the parties has voted between N25,000 and N30,000 for each of the electorate that will vote for its candidate.
The desperation to win by all means coupled, high level of poverty and ignorance are reasons for vote buying.
