Vote buying once again loomed large over the Anambra State governorship election held yesterday.

Labour Party?s governorship candidate, Dr. George Moghalu, raised concerns over this issue when he spoke with journalists shortly after casting his vote at Uruagu Ward 1, Nnewi. Moghalu attributed the low voter turnout to a growing loss of confidence in the electoral process.

?I haven?t heard of any major glitches so far,? Moghalu said, adding, ?As we continue to monitor the process, we?ll be able to assess it better. In terms of voting, there?s improvement compared to previous elections, but I can?t say it?s free and fair. Once you monetize the process, you weaponize poverty?so what?s free about it??

The Labour Party candidate lamented that voter apathy has become a worrying trend, describing it as a ?manifestation of people?s loss of confidence in the system.

?INEC must keep improving the process,? he added. ?I?m worried?not just fo myself, but for the entire process that should help create a stable environment to strengthen our democracy.?

Buying and selling of votes took place in various polling units in Awka North, Awka South and Njikoka Local Government Areas (LGAs). The price for each vote ranged from N10,000 to N12,000 depending on the location.

This was also confirmed by the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) in its Mid-Election Report presented to journalists at its Election Day Data Room at BON Hotels, Awka.

The report, signed by Bukola Idowu, KDI?s Team Lead, and presented by Oluwafemi Adebayo, the organisation?s research team leader and others, covered activities that took place across the the 21 Local Government Areas, 3 senatorial, 11 Federal constituencies, 326 Registration Areas, and 5718 polling units of Anambra State.

?Our observation documentation shows systematic violations of electoral guidelines by agents representing primarily the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), and Young Progressives Party (YPP)?, KDI observed.

?Party agents have been observed engaging in blatant vote-buying operations, approaching voters with cash inducements ranging from N3,000 to N10,000, establishing ?verification points? where voters received payments after casting their ballots.

?These violations represent a fundamental assault on the integrity of the electoral process, undermining the principles of free, fair, and credible elections, while the failure of INEC officials and security personnel at affected polling units to curtail these activities raises serious concerns about enforcement of electoral guidelines and protection of voters? rights.?

Sunday Sun gathered that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned optimally in some polling units and had minor issues in a few polling centres.

KDI, in its report, observed that the BVAS devices functioned optimally in 95.6 per cent of the polling units monitored across the state.

?A few polling units (2.64 per cent) experienced minor network-related disruptions, which were promptly resolved in several cases.

?In some locations, the BVAS failed to capture fingerprints, requiring officials to revert to facial authentication to complete voter verification. However, the devices broke down in 1.76% of the polling units observed?, KDI observed.

Polling units monitored by Sunday Sun recorded a high voter turnout. However, KDI said that ?preliminary observations from KDI?s field reports indicate low voter turnout across several polling units.?

?Observers noted that many polling stations were sparsely populated, with some officials seen seated with only two to five voters waiting in line. While turnout appeared low in the early hours, it is hoped that more voters will come out before the close of polls.?

Impressive turnout, subtle vote buying in Onitsha, Nkpor, Obosi

In Onitsha North and South, Idemili North and South LGA, the governorship election opened on a slow note as voting materials arrived late in several polling units, though with an impressive turnout of voters observed in key areas of the state.

At Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha, the designated venue for Ward 1, Units 18, 19, and 20, materials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived at about 9:15 a.m. nearly two hours after the official commencement of polling.

By 9:50 a.m only a handful of voters were seen milling around the polling centres, waiting for accreditation and the commencement of voting. Security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were stationed at strategic points to maintain order and ensure safety.

Head of the INEC distribution team in the area, Chika Ogbonnaya, confirmed that all materials meant for the election had been distributed across the wards. However, she gave no reason for the slight delay in dispatching materials to the polling units, a lapse that sparked mild agitation among early voters.

In Awada, Obosi, Nkpor, Ogbunike, Oba and Oraifite, voting commenced immediately after crosschecking of materials by party agents. There were reports of malfunctioning of BVAS and subtle vote buying in most of the polling units.

In Nnewi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Mr. John Chuma Nwosu, exercised his civic right as he cast his vote at Oduda Central Primary School, Nnewi-Ichia Ward 2, precisely at 11:25 a.m.

Addressing newsmen shortly after voting, Nwosu expressed deep concern over the increasing incidence of vote buying, describing it as a grave threat to democracy and the will of the people.

He alleged that huge sums of money were being deployed to polling units in Nnewi to undermine his chances in the election, but maintained that his campaign remains rooted in integrity and principle.

?I will rather stand by integrity and lose honorably than buy votes to win,? Nwosu declared.

Many observers at the scene praised his calm and confident disposition, describing him as ?a man of conviction.?

At Umueri, Anambra East LGA, the governorship candidate of Young Progressives Party, Sir Paul Chukwuma, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian Police Force for the handling of the governorship election in Anambra State.

Chukwuma spoke at Ward 14, Umuleri II, Polling Unit 004, after casting his vote also alleged that his supporters were intimidated by some hired thugs of the chairman of Anambra East Local Government Area.

He further alleged that Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance had engaged in vote buying in the course of the governorship election.

His words: ?The election commenced on time. Materials arrived on time. I commend INEC. It shows that INEC is part of this exercise.

?However, I must commend the hierarchy of the police that everywhere, to a large extent, we experienced hitch free exercise, from the point of view of the security agencies.

?However, it?s important to note that, in Anambra State, a couple of local governments, the mayor of my local government, for instance, has been moving about the whole place intimidating voters, you know, with a bus packed full of thugs and state funded militia, harassing, intimidating voters and I think I should point this out.

?I also heard that a couple of local governments, the same so-called mayors of the various local governments, of course, with the tacit support of the governor of the state.

?But, that is not something we will like to bother ourselves with. We?ve run a robust campaign and we are confident that Anambra will give us the mandate to bring about the desired change in Anambra State.?

On the allegation of vote buying, Chukwuma said: ?The governor of the state has, from Day Go indulged in vote buying and is not afraid. He?s not worried about even announcing that on public television.

At Magazine Avenue, GRA Onitsha, Nkisi Magazine GRA 02, voting also went on smoothly though there were challenges of BVAS malfunction which failed to capture most of the voters who presented newly acquired PVCs.

An APGA Chieftain In the area, Evang. Chinedu Obigwe hailed the exercise and the civil conduct of people of the area who were very eager to vote and exercise their civic responsibility. He said that responses so far within the area and from feelers across different parts of the state where he reached out confirmed that the election would be an affirmation of mandate of continuity for Governor Soludo whom he said has justified the confidence people reposed on him by being a working governor.

Governorship candidate of Boot Party, Okeke Chika Jerry, also commended INEC for what he described as improvement on the logistics arrangements during elections.

Jerry, a renowned author and prolific writer cast his vote at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Mba Farm, Onitsha North GRA Polling unit 003 at exactly 11.34 am however lamented that vote buying has infested Nigeria?s electoral system like virus and cankerworm.

He regretted that candidates like him without deep financial chest have been muscled out of the contest by the monetization of votes and called on INEC and the federal government to devise better system of checkmating the menace.

At Ukpo community, Dunukofia LGA, the voting exercise in the area was seamless as INEC staff and voting materials arrived various polling units monitored by the reporter.

Chairman of Dunukofia LGA, Barr Chijioke Ozumba (Ifezulumba Dunukofia) after casting his vote at Ncheke village Ukpo ward 3 commended INEC too for the swift conduct of the exercise.

He boasted that people of Dunukofia will turn out with the highest number of votes to consolidate the achievements of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of APGA whom he predicted would win the guber election with landslide victory and wide margin against his opponents.

Notably, security agencies said they maintained neutrality and restraint during the election. Officers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) were observed patrolling some centres to deter inducements and enforce electoral regulations, voters and witnesses said cash payments for votes continued, but more covertly than in past elections.

At Polling Unit 02, Amawbia Primary School, a voter who spoke on condition of anonymity said she received money after stating her preferred candidate. ?The process was seamless,? she said, ?but before we voted, we were asked who we wanted to vote for. It was only when our choice matched what they wanted that we were given money.?

Asked whether those who refused to vote for the preferred candidate were prevented from voting, she replied in the negative and insisted that everyone was allowed to cast their ballots.

Another voter, who gave his name only as Tochukwu, said the vote-buying this time was coded and more discreet. ?Unlike previous elections that they buy votes publicly, this election is more coded. No one approaches you until it?s time to vote. After accreditation, one of those with the money will ask who you are voting and will join you to see if you actually voted for the said candidate. Only then will the money be given to you,? he said.

A police officer, speaking off the record, said that their role was to ensure the peaceful conduct of the electorate and officers complied with directives on conduct and neutrality.

Observers at several units across Awka, Amawfia and Abagana reported that by mid-day most voting had been completed and many voters were waiting for ballot sorting.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old first-time voter, Chinyere (surname withheld) confessed that she was paid to vote at Nteje Ward 1, Amuda Village Square Polling Unit 12.

?I was paid to vote,? Chinyere said with a smile, adding that she was, however, happy to finally exercise her civic right after years of waiting to reach voting age.

She explained that she could not participate in the 2023 general elections because she did not have a Permanent Voter?s Card (PVC) at the time.

?I just got my PVC this year, and I?m happy to use it today,? she noted.

At the polling unit, most voting activities had been concluded by midday, with several voters seen hanging around as officials prepared for the sorting and counting of ballots.

INEC officials at the centre told journalists that the voting commenced early, around 8:00 am and was smooth.

A youth corp member on election duty in Awka, said the election was peaceful, but that the only problem was that party agents from a particular political party, were monitoring voters to know the party they were voting for ,? as of violence, the security agencies did their jobs perfectly well, but party agents of a particular political party were monitoring voters to know who they are voting for . If you vote for their candidate, they will give stipend. This is not good because their presence influences who to vote for, put fear in the mind of voters, while they still instil fears in others who may not want to be marked for attack after the election.

Early start, smooth process at Ward 1, Nnewichi, Nnewi North LGA

At Ward 1, Nnewichi 016, and 014 which comprises 6 and 4 polling units, respectively located at the Central School and Obi Nnewichi palace in Nnewi North Local Government Area, the atmosphere was calm and orderly as voting activities commenced.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived at the venue around 8:00 a.m., making an early start to the day?s exercise.

Although there was a slight delay in the arrival of logistics materials, accreditation of voters began before 8:30 a.m., signaling a relatively smooth takeoff of the process.

The Assistant Presiding Officer, Mrs. Joy Onyemobi the Central School, described the exercise as peaceful and well-organized.

She noted that voters were cooperating with officials, and expressed optimism that more eligible voters would turn up before the close of polls to exercise their civic rights.

She further commended the preparedness of INEC and security personnel for maintaining order and ensuring that the process remained transparent and credible.

Also at Ward 014 Obi Nnewichi, which has four polling units, election materials arrived early and voting commenced as scheduled.

The Presiding Officer, Anyika Blessing, noted that although some materials arrived slightly behind schedule, the BVAS machines and other logistics were functioning smoothly.

Election peaceful, hitch-free ?Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has adjudged the Anambra State governorship election as peaceful and without tangible hitches.

The minister stated this after casting her vote at about 12.25pm at Polling Unit 001, Ward 2 at the premisis of St. Stephen?s Anglican Church, Okpuno-Egbu, Umudim Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who also monitored the election in some polling units in Uruagu Ward 2, lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their satisfactory and commendable performance.

Ahead of the announcement of the election results, she urged the contestants to take whatever is the outcome in good fate. She said the ultimate was to elect a governor that serves the interest of Anambra State and its people. (Sunday Sun, excluding headline)

Update news