Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has stirred controversy with a bold electoral incentive scheme, pledging cash rewards to local governments and wards that deliver the highest number of votes for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the upcoming November 8 governorship election.
Speaking at an APGA rally in Anambra East Local Government Area, Soludo announced that the local government with the highest vote count for APGA will receive ₦10 million. Second and third place LGAs will get ₦5 million and ₦3 million respectively, while any ward that secures a win for the party will be rewarded with ₦1 million. He also reiterated a previous promise of ₦500,000 for campaign chairpersons or council leaders for each ward won during the last House of Assembly elections.
“We are targeting to win all the polling units everywhere,” Soludo declared, urging party loyalists to mobilise voters across the state’s 21 local government areas.
Political strategy or vote-buying?
The announcement has sparked a wave of reactions, with critics accusing the governor of institutionalising vote-buying under the guise of party loyalty rewards. While APGA supporters see the move as a motivational strategy to energise grassroots mobilisation, others argue it undermines democratic principles.
Fairview Africa, a civic media platform, conducted a street poll in Abuja to gauge public sentiment. Princewill, a resident, said, “Actually when it comes to politics, it is very rare for us to get a free and fair election in Nigeria. Most of these politicians come online and make false promises to the people. I believe this is just a clear picture of vote-buying because they are trying to defraud the general public.”
Gabriel, another respondent, added, “To me, I clearly think it’s politics because I don’t see any reason why you must pay to be voted. This is just hurting democracy.”
While Nigerian electoral law prohibits direct financial inducement to voters, the legality of rewarding party structures or campaign teams remains a grey area. Analysts say the line between incentivising party loyalty and outright vote-buying is often blurred, especially when rewards are publicly tied to electoral outcomes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not commented on Soludo’s announcement, but civil society groups are expected to raise concerns about the precedent it sets for future elections.
APGA’s electoral ambition
Soludo’s strategy reflects APGA’s determination to consolidate its hold on Anambra, a state where the party has historically enjoyed strong support. By offering financial incentives, the governor appears to be banking on local competition to drive voter turnout and ensure a clean sweep across polling units.
However, the backlash suggests that the tactic may backfire if perceived as coercive or unethical. As the election date approaches, the debate over the role of money in Nigerian politics is likely to intensify, with watchdogs and opposition parties scrutinising campaign practices more closely.
