Awaji Inombek-Abiante, the lawmaker representing Andoni/Opobo Federal Constituency, has said voter inducement will be ineffective in elections if citizens are determined to vote for the candidates of their choice.
Speaking on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Inombek-Abiante emphasized that citizens’ commitment to their choices can neutralize the impact of vote buying.
“How do you stop vote buying? If the citizens decide to elect who they believe in, inducement or no inducement won’t matter much,” he said.
The Rivers State lawmaker drew from his observations of elections in other ECOWAS countries, noting that Nigeria faces a trust deficit that contributes to electoral challenges.
“If somebody gives you money or material inducements, and you vote without believing in the ideology of that person, it’s just for the moment and you may suffer the consequences for a long time,” he explained.
Inombek-Abiante urged Nigerians to build integrity and reject inducements voluntarily, not merely because of laws or regulations.
“We should reach a point where no offer can influence our decisions about who we entrust with public service,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of creating safeguards to ensure that candidates genuinely supported by their communities have the required credentials and can deliver services without relying on wealthy backers.
“If Nigerians appreciate this fact, they don’t need to accept any inducement on their own,” he added.
