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CHUKWUJEKWU ILOZUE, AWKA

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Chief George Moghalu and the  All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy Governorship Candidate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, voted in their different wards on Saturday and shared a similar tale of vote buying and blamed the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Moghalu voted at Uruagu Ward 1, Nnewi, and urged INEC to rise to its responsibility of making the process credible.

He alleged vote-buying in the governorship election in Anambra state.

He also expressed voter apathy, attributing it to people’s lack of confidence in the electoral process.

He, however, said it was too early to confirm whether or not the process was fair and credible.

He said, “I didn’t hear issues of glitches, at least for now. As we go along to monitor the process, we’ll confirm.

“In terms of voting, there’s an improvement over previous elections. I can’t say it’s free and fair because if you monetise a process, you weaponise poverty. What’s free about it?

“There’s no doubt there’s low voter turnout. And that has been the trend.

“It’s incumbent on INEC to keep improving on the process because voter apathy is the manifestation of a loss of confidence in the people. That’s the only way they can protest.

“I’m worried because it’s not about me but the process that will create the stable environment that will further strengthen our democracy.”

He alleged massive vote buying across the state by the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the ongoing governorship election in Anambra State.

Also speaking shortly after voting at her polling unit at 001, Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra, Senator Ekwunife expressed sadness that despite the warning against vote buying, APGA candidate, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, allegedly deployed N5m to each polling unit for vote buying.

Ekwunife, who voted at Nri by 11.34 am, lamented that the electorate across the state were being coerced through monetary inducement to vote against their conscience.

She, however, described the massive turnout of voters as a clear sign that the Anambra electorate is desirous of changing the bad government in the state and expressed optimism that the APC would win the election.

Labour Party’s candidate, Dr George Moghalu, has alleged vote buying in the ongoing governorship election in Anambra state.

He also expressed voter apathy, attributing it to people’s lack of confidence in the electoral process#