2027 election and vote buying

The just concluded bye-election held in 12 states across the country has open a new Vista of what is to be expected in 2027 elections. The bye-election was characterised by massive vote buying by the ruling the  leading political parties in the various constituencies. In some places, the election was marred by violence. Ballots were […]

The just concluded bye-election held in 12 states across the country has open a new Vista of what is to be expected in 2027 elections. The bye-election was characterised by massive vote buying by the ruling the  leading political parties in the various constituencies.

In some places, the election was marred by violence. Ballots were brazenly exchanged for money. While this was going on the police, who were supposed to checkmate it, look away and the political actors perpetrate the crime without remorse.

There was a complete absence of the personnel of the EFCC who are supposed to be on the field to apprehend any person, that indulges in vote buying during the conduct of the election.  THis is  fast becoming a political culture of our electoral process.

This will not do any good for the electoral process in the future and raised questions to legitimacy of any election conducted in this country. Vote buying cannot be allowed to be an attachment to our political process.

Vote buying in election among the new generation in the country is now a subculture. Therefore, any person or politician elected under this condition is not a reflection of trust by the people. Nigerians have never been satisfied with the conduct of elections since 1999 to date as there is no level playing field in each election cycle because winning is to the highest bidder in most cases.

The reality is stark: Nigeria’s democracy cannot grow on a foundation of vote buying by the political actors whenever there is an election. There is a compelling need to tame the vote buying menace which is worrisome factor in the growth of  democracy.

If going by what the Chairman of the ruling APC Prof Nentewe Yilwatda, say that they will replicate the bye-election victory that was characterised by vote buying in 2027, then it’s sorry for the fledging democracy. And that would spell doom for the people of this country.

 

Usman Santuraki Beti lives at No2 Santuraki Close

Demsawo Jimeta-Yola [email protected]