Ekiti Election: ‘Politicians Bought People’s Vote For N500’ – Election Observer

An election observer, Paul James who hails from YIAGA in Ekiti State,  has claimed that people sold their votes for as little as N500 during the state governorship election.

Speaking with BBC Hausa Service on Saturday, James said Money and other stuff were provided to people during political events from March 2022 to date.

According to him, the system has changed as politicians now go from house to house, giving people money.

The election observer stated that the vote-buying was not limited to just one political party, adding that it’s so disheartening that they bought people’s votes for as low as N500.

James said: “What this has shown is that politicians don’t like wasting time campaigning, what they now do is to buy people’s votes.”

However, an INEC official, Hajiya Zainab Aminu, told the BBC Hausa that the matter had been addressed.

Aminu said it is not permissible for people to use phones or snap pictures when they come to cast their vote at the polling stations.

According to her, people used to snap what they voted for and show it afterwards to collect money.