Anambra Bye-Election: APGA Splashes ₦30k Per Vote as APC Also Fingered in Cash-for-Ballots Scandal

Allegations of massive vote buying rocked Saturday’s Anambra South senatorial bye-election, with the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) accused of leading the charge by allegedly offering as much as ₦30,000 per voter. The All Progressives Congress (APC) was also implicated in similar inducement schemes.

Reports from polling units in Nnewi South, Nnewi North, Ihiala, and Ekwusigo local government areas point to widespread cash-for-ballot practices that overshadowed an otherwise peaceful exercise. Eyewitnesses and voters recounted how party agents openly distributed cash ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦25,000, with some instances allegedly reaching ₦30,000.

At Ukpor, hometown of APGA’s candidate Dr. Emma Nwachukwu, the practice was described as rampant. One voter, Madam Comfort Okoye, told journalists:

“They came here and gave everybody money ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦25,000. There is hunger in the land, some of us rejected their offers, but others didn’t. It is unfortunate.”

Similar allegations trailed Osumenyi, the home community of APC’s governorship hopeful Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, where reports of inducement also surfaced.

Observers say the scale of alleged bribery represents a dangerous low for Nigeria’s democratic process.

“This is a travesty of democracy. It is sad to see this level of desperation in a state led by a professor. What happened in these LGAs is nothing short of electoral fraud,” a voter lamented.

Civil society actors and concerned citizens are now calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to probe the allegations and take decisive action, warning that failure to sanction offenders would entrench impunity in future polls.

Although APGA appears to be leading in early tallies, its performance is now overshadowed by mounting accusations of cash-for-votes that threaten to delegitimize the outcome.