The Trend Of Using Rice And Money To Buy Votes Is Both Disgraceful And Damaging To Democracy.
In Nigeria, politics and elections have become secondary concerns. It’s now common to see political figures distributing rice, bread, and money in exchange for votes.
This practice is not only barbaric but sets a harmful precedent that could undermine our democracy. Politicians often disguise vote-buying as charity by sharing food items.
While some argue that these actions are harmless, they can unduly influence voters. Recently, during the Ekiti State Governorship election, reports indicated the ruling party used vehicles to distribute bread, with occupants throwing it to residents, in an effort to sway votes.
Voter inducement ranged from five thousand to fifty thousand Naira, with efforts to monitor voters to ensure they voted for specific candidates.
The trend of vote buying is worsening. Despite widespread reports, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has failed to arrest many perpetrators, allowing the incumbent governor to win amidst these irregularities.
As Osun State prepares for its governorship election, a disturbing video surfaced showing a woman with an APC logo and AMBO cap sharing rice and threatening residents that those who accept rice and don’t vote for her candidate will face terrible consequences for their children—driven by poverty and greed. Some women may resist and reject the rice, but desperation is causing people to endure harassment rather than advocating for voting rights without bribes.
Questioning where politicians recoup their money reveals that development funds are often diverted to buy votes. The political elite exploit growing poverty, greed, and lack of focus, institutionalising vote-buying as a norm.
Nigerians must realise that selling their votes ensures their suffering for the next four years. Laws should be amended to criminalise vote-selling, as it allows corrupt and selfish candidates to prosper, leading to bad governance instead of people-centred projects that benefit society.
Vote buying threatens to turn our communities into impoverished and unstable places. Politicians must act responsibly
Taoreed Abdullahi writes from Lagos and reachable via: 08024273583t/[email protected]
