The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, has alleged that a significant number of voters in the just concluded Ekiti State governorship election were financially induced, despite the poll being conducted in a generally peaceful atmosphere.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE Television on Saturday, Itodo expressed concern over the prevalence of vote buying and the low turnout recorded across the state, describing the development as a setback for Nigeria’s democratic process.
According to him, the election provided a rare opportunity for citizens to freely determine who governs them because security conditions were stable and there were no widespread reports of violence or voter intimidation. However, he lamented that the process was undermined by the influence of money on voters.
“It was a peaceful election. However, issues around vote buying were quite widespread and turnout was very low. Unfortunately, there was a missed opportunity for citizens and voters to exercise their popular choice given the conducive environment to do so,” Itodo said.
The YIAGA Africa chief noted that voter apathy remained a major challenge to electoral participation in Nigeria, stressing that many eligible voters failed to take advantage of the calm atmosphere to cast their ballots.
He warned that the increasing monetization of elections threatens the credibility of the democratic process and could discourage competent individuals who lack access to huge financial resources from seeking elective office.
Itodo called for stronger enforcement of electoral laws prohibiting vote buying and selling, urging security agencies, election management bodies and political parties to work together to curb the practice.
He also advocated sustained voter education campaigns to sensitize citizens on the long term consequences of exchanging their votes for financial benefits, arguing that such actions often result in poor governance and weaken accountability.
His remarks came as election observers and civil society organizations continue to assess the conduct of the Ekiti governorship poll, which saw the re-election of incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by a wide margin.
YIAGA Africa has consistently monitored elections across the country and has repeatedly raised concerns over the growing influence of money in Nigeria’s electoral system, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to free, fair and credible elections.
