The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the upcoming Anambra governorship election, Mr. John Nwosu, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take stronger measures against vote buying, warning that the practice threatens the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.

Nwosu, who is one of 16 governorship candidates listed by INEC for the November 8, 2025 election, made the appeal in a statement released on Saturday.

He said vote trading remains a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy and could undermine the legitimacy of the Anambra poll if not urgently addressed.

“It is disturbing to witness voters openly selling their votes at polling units,” Nwosu said.

“Such practices do not reflect the will of the people, they turn elections into auctions where leadership is handed to the highest bidder.”

Nwosu’s ADC will be challenging incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), among others, in what is expected to be a closely watched race.

He called on INEC to adopt more secure voting cubicles that ensure voter privacy and reduce opportunities for vote buying and coercion.

“Many polling units lack privacy,” he noted.

“When people can see how others vote, it compromises the secrecy of the ballot and encourages manipulation. INEC must act decisively by providing private and secure voting areas.”

Nwosu stressed that Nigeria already has strong electoral laws, but their impact depends on strict enforcement.

He believes the Anambra election offers INEC a chance to prove its commitment to free, fair, and credible elections.

Beyond the commission, he also urged security agencies to take vote buying seriously, calling security a crucial component of successful elections.

“Security plays a central role in ensuring fair electoral outcomes. While INEC leads the process, collaboration with security agencies is vital to create an environment where voters can exercise their rights freely and safely,” he said.

Nwosu’s comments come as public concern grows over recurring incidents of vote buying in Nigerian elections, often in full view of security and electoral officials.

Former Minister of Information and elder statesman, Professor Jerry Gana, has called for a strategic and deliberate effort to nurture competent and visionary leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking in Kaduna on Saturday at the 2025 Reunion of the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF), Gana emphasised that Nigeria can only overcome its current national challenges if it is led by individuals of integrity, character, and competence.

The event, themed “Leading from the Front: The Role of Christian Elders,” was organised by the Kaduna Chapter of NOSCEF, with Gana serving as the chairman of the occasion.

“There must be a deliberate effort to raise and support people who are capable of leading well,” Gana told journalists after the event.

“Leadership doesn’t happen by chance, it is cultivated. If we want transformation in Nigeria, we must intentionally raise leaders with strong moral and intellectual foundations.”

Gana, a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), warned that without such deliberate mentorship and leadership development, Nigeria could remain trapped in what he described as maladministration.

He continued: “Elders in churches, communities, and politics must look out for individuals with leadership potential, mentor them, and prepare them to take up leadership roles. Nowhere in the world do great leaders emerge by accident, they are groomed.”

According to him, the failure of leadership in Nigeria is largely due to the way political parties prioritise vested interests over merit, often sidelining candidates who are most qualified.

He urged political parties especially his own, the PDP, to place a premium on selecting leaders based on character, competence and a genuine desire to serve the people.

“In the PDP, I always push for the emergence of excellent candidates,” Gana said.

“As 2027 approaches, we must ensure that those we field, whether for governorship, the National Assembly, or the presidency are men and women of integrity, wisdom, and honour. Nigerians deserve nothing less.”

Gana, who once led the now-defunct Mass Mobilisation for Self-Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), reiterated his long-standing belief in excellence and accountability in leadership.

“From my MAMSER days till now, I’ve held the conviction that everything worth doing must be done with excellence,” he said.

“To rescue this nation, 2027 must be the turning point where we choose leaders who can truly lead with vision and competence.”

His remarks come as conversations intensify around Nigeria’s leadership trajectory, with many citizens and stakeholders expressing growing concern over declining standards in governance since the return to democracy in 1999.

For Gana, the path forward is clear: “We need to deliberately nurture leaders who can offer quality governance at the local, state, and national levels. If we’re serious about Nigeria’s future, then we must be serious about who we allow to lead.”

The ongoing crisis within the Labour Party took a violent turn over the weekend when Julius Abure, the factional chairman of the party, was physically attacked at Benin Airport in Edo State.

Obiora Ifoh, National Publicity Secretary for Abure’s faction, reported that the attack occurred on Friday and was carried out by a woman identified as Ms. Precious Oruche, also known as “Mama P.”

The incident began at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where Oruche confronted Abure in the boarding queue for a Max Air flight to Benin.

Despite intervention attempts by flight attendants, the confrontation reportedly continued throughout the flight.

Upon arrival at Benin Airport, the altercation escalated until security personnel intervened, removing Abure to safety and handing over Oruche to the police.

In a statement, Ifoh described Oruche as a content creator from a “well-known political family,” who, in a video, claimed immunity from prosecution due to her connections within the police force.

Oruche reportedly declared her intention to continue targeting Abure and other party officials, accusing them of destroying the Labour Party and being responsible for Peter Obi’s departure from the party.

“The leadership of the Labour Party is deeply disturbed by this campaign of cyberbullying and physical aggression against our members, especially Barrister Julius Abure,” the statement said.

Ifoh called on the Inspector General of Police to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack, describing it as a calculated effort by anti-democratic elements to destabilize the party.

He urged members of the Labour Party to stay calm and await the results of the inquiry, emphasizing that both assault and cyberbullying constitute serious offenses under Nigerian law.