The All Progressives Congress (APC) has sounded the alarm over widespread incidents of vote buying in the ongoing 2025 Anambra State governorship election. The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Valentine Iluobi, raised the concern on Saturday while addressing journalists shortly after casting his vote at Mbala-Okafia Polling Units 001 and 002 in Nimo, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
Dr. Iluobi alleged that the illegal practice was taking place across numerous polling units in Anambra and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to take swift action to stop it. “As I speak to you now, vote buying is ongoing in my polling unit and other units across the state. The parties involved in this act, apart from the APC, are mainly the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Labour Party,” he stated. The APC spokesperson emphasized the need for authorities to urgently address the situation to safeguard the credibility of the electoral process and ensure a transparent outcome.
Earlier reports from *SaharaReporters* also confirmed similar concerns raised by former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi. After casting his vote at Umudim Akasi, Agulu Ward 2, Polling Unit 008, Obi expressed disappointment over the brazen exchange of money for votes, describing it as a dangerous trend that undermines Nigeria’s democratic integrity. He lamented that many voters were reportedly selling their votes for amounts ranging between ₦20,000 and ₦30,000. “Democracy in Nigeria is deteriorating, and sadly, those suffering the most from poor governance are the ones fueling it. A young unemployed man who sells his vote for ₦30,000 is selling his future—his education, healthcare, and job opportunities,” Obi lamented.
Adding her voice to the growing condemnation, the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Ifemelu “Ifemeludike” Chioma, denounced the widespread vote buying and demanded harsh penalties for both the buyers and the sellers. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she decried reports of voters selling their ballots for as little as ₦5,000 in various polling units. She described the practice as “a shameful stain on democracy” and called on INEC and security operatives to immediately apprehend anyone involved in the act. “Vote buying is heavily happening across polling units in the Anambra State governorship elections. I call on INEC and the police to arrest those party agents paying voters ₦5,000 for their conscience,” she wrote.
The outspoken actress and activist condemned the act as one that cripples Nigeria’s democracy and perpetuates corruption. “This practice is destroying our society and it is totally unacceptable,” she said, advocating life imprisonment for anyone caught buying or selling votes. She argued that vote buying not only criminalizes both politicians and the electorate but also erodes accountability in governance and tarnishes the image of those in leadership positions.
As election activities continue across Anambra State, the growing number of complaints about vote buying has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. Calls from political actors, civil society, and candidates highlight the urgent need for decisive action from INEC and law enforcement agencies to safeguard the sanctity of the ballot and restore citizens’ confidence in democracy.