AWKA: Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has stirred controversy after announcing cash rewards for wards that deliver the highest votes for his party, the All-Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in the upcoming November 8 governorship election.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, on Saturday, Soludo pledged ₦1 million to any ward that secures victory for APGA, with additional cash prizes for the top three performing wards.
When we campaigned for the Senate, we promised ₦1 million to every ward where APGA won and we fulfilled it. For this governorship election, the first ward will get ₦5 million, the second ₦3 million, and the third ₦2 million. Every ward that wins for APGA will also receive ₦1 million,” Soludo said in a viral campaign video.
The announcement has generated heated reactions from opposition parties and some citizens, who accused the governor of vote-buying and abuse of office.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said Soludo’s remarks clearly violated electoral ethics and showed a “loss of public confidence.
This is a new level of desperation wrapped in impunity. Only a governor who has lost touch with his people would openly promise cash for votes. INEC cannot pretend not to see this,” Abdullahi said in a statement.
Similarly, the All-Progressives Congress (APC) South-East Vice Chairman, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, described the promise as a clear case of vote inducement” and vowed to report the matter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and other relevant authorities.
The Labour Party (LP) also condemned Soludo’s action, accusing him of weaponising poverty.”
According to LP spokesman Obiora Ifoh, Governor Soludo has failed in governance and now seeks to buy legitimacy with money. This is not good for democracy, and we will raise this matter at the next stakeholders’ meeting with INEC.”
However, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has defended the governor’s statement, insisting it was not vote-buying but an effort to encourage party unity and voter participation.
Ejimofor Opara, APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, said the move was meant to “foster healthy competition among the party’s 362 wards.
This is not about vote-buying. It’s a motivational initiative to increase participation and strengthen the democratic process. Only about 10% of registered voters usually decide elections in Anambra this move aims to change that, Opara explained.
The Electoral Act 2022 prohibits offering money, gifts, or promises to influence voters before or during elections.
Any individual found guilty faces a fine of ₦500,000 or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.
The law also considers accepting such inducements by voters as a criminal offence.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it is 99% ready for the November 8 Anambra governorship election.
Dr. Kenneth Ukeagu, INEC National Commissioner supervising the state, said mock accreditation exercises across the state showed that BVAS devices and logistics were fully functional.
Over 2.8 million registered voters are expected to participate in the election, with 16 political parties and their candidates contesting for the governorship seat.
