Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Joash Amupitan, to urgently investigate allegations that Anambra State Governor, Mr. Chukwuma Soludo, promised financial rewards to voters in exchange for their support ahead of the state’s November election.
In a statement posted via its X handle, @serapNigeria on Sunday, SERAP urged Mr. Amupitan to “promptly investigate the allegations of the ‘cash-for-votes pledge’ by Anambra state governor Mr. Chukwuma Soludo, and address the stain of electoral bribery in Nigeria’s elections, ahead of the November election in the state.”
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that Mr. Soludo had on Saturday reportedly promised during his party’s campaign rally in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, to give his party supporters “millions of naira if they vote for his party.”
Describing the alleged pledge as a “textbook case of vote-buying,” SERAP said it constituted a “blatant violation of section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], sections 121(1)(a)(c) and 127 of the Electoral Act and the country’s international anticorruption obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.”
The organization warned that electoral bribery “undermines the ability of INEC to discharge its responsibilities under Section 153 of the Nigerian Constitution and paragraph 15(a) of the third schedule of the Constitution, and the Electoral Act.”
According to SERAP, “Electoral integrity is critical to a legitimate democracy.
“When the integrity of that process is compromised, the legitimacy of the government and the public confidence in public institutions is seriously undermined.”
The group, further, urged Mr. Amupitan to “send a powerful message to politicians that INEC under his watch would not tolerate any infringement of the electoral process including allegations of vote-buying,” and to refer the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation.
Quoting the Nigerian Constitution, SERAP reminded authorities that “Section 14(1)(c) provides that ‘the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution,’ while Section 15(5) requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.”
It also cited Sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral Act, which prohibit electoral bribery and undue influence before, during, and after any election, as well as Section 145(2), which provides that “a prosecution under this Act shall be undertaken by legal officers of the Commission or any legal practitioner appointed by it.”
SERAP’s call comes amid growing concerns about vote-buying and electoral corruption ahead of the forthcoming Anambra State election.
