Anambra guber: Soludo under fire over cash-for-votes pledge

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has set tongues wagging following his announcement of a cash reward for every ward won by his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in the forthcoming November 8 governorship election in the state.

The governor, during the party’s campaign rally in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area on Saturday, promised to give his party supporters N1 million per ward.

“When we were campaigning for the Senate, we knew we were going to win every ward in the South Senatorial Zone, but we still had some incentives. Any ward that APGA won received N1 million, and we won all the wards in Orumba South.

“We promised each of these wards N1 million, and next week, we will redeem it.

“For November 8, any ward that wins again will receive N1 million, while the first three performing wards will get N5 million, N2 million, and N1 million respectively,” he said.

Meanwhile, the pledge has stirred controversy and backlash from opposition parties and civil society organisations, which described the move as open inducement and a gross violation of the Electoral Act.

DAILY POST reports that at least 2.8 million registered voters are expected to participate in the poll, in which 16 political parties and their candidates will contest the governorship seat.

The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, said Soludo’s action amounted to vote-buying and abuse of office.

Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, called on INEC to act swiftly, describing Soludo’s promise as “a public confession of vote-buying.”

Also, the Labour Party alleged that Soludo was weaponising poverty.

“This is not good for democracy. Why is he giving out money now that elections are near? This is vote-buying and manipulation. We will raise this matter at the next stakeholders’ meeting with INEC,” the party stated.