The Young Progressives Party (YPP) senatorial candidate in Anambra State, Oforbuike Okoli-Egbo, has raised concerns over alleged vote buying during the recent by-elections in the state.
Speaking on Lunchtime Politics on Channels Television, Okoli-Egbo claimed voters were paid between ₦15,000 and ₦20,000 to influence their votes.
“This election was heavily influenced by financial inducements. It’s unprecedented in Anambra for voters to be paid such amounts to cast their ballots,” he said, pointing fingers at the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the alleged malpractice.
Despite the allegations, Okoli-Egbo emphasized YPP’s strong political presence in Anambra, recalling the party’s past successes including two senatorial victories, two federal house seats and three state assembly seats.
“Our past wins show the genuine support YPP enjoys in the region,” he noted.
He also highlighted the country’s challenging economic situation, suggesting that many voters may have been compelled to accept money due to financial pressures.
“Given Nigeria’s current economic realities, resisting ₦15,000 to ₦20,000 is difficult for many,” he said, adding that ultimately, voters bear responsibility for compromising their electoral rights.
Okoli-Egbo promised that YPP would issue a formal statement on the elections in due course but insisted the scale of vote buying could not be overlooked.
The by-elections, held across 12 states last Saturday, filled vacancies in the House of Representatives and State Assemblies.
The APC won 12 out of 16 contested seats, while APGA, PDP, and NNPP also secured some seats.
In Anambra, INEC declared APGA’s Emmanuel Nwachukwu the winner of the Anambra South Senatorial District by-election, with 90,408 votes, defeating APC’s Azuka Okwuosa who scored 19,847 votes.
Nwachukwu replaces the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who passed away in July 2024.
Additionally, APGA’s Ifeoma Azikiwe won the by-election for Onitsha North Constituency 1 in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
