In what appears to be a show of financial strength, the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have been accused of engaging in vote buying during the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by-election in Anambra State.
APGA is reportedly working to install a successor to the late lawmaker, Hon. Justice Azuka, while the ADC is backing Azuka’s widow, Mrs. Justina Azuka, in a bid to retain the seat within the family.
Although the by-election is considered relatively minor in scale, it has turned into a fierce political battle. Governor Chukwuma Soludo is said to be leveraging the contest as a litmus test of his administration’s popularity ahead of the upcoming governorship election in November.
On the other hand, ADC is using the election to test its strength especially as one of the coalition leaders, Mr Peter Obi, is from the state and has also thrown his weight behind the widow.
In the Omagba area, APGA agents were giving out as much as N10,000 to each voter to secure votes, while the ADC is giving out N5,000.
A source, Mr Ikechukwu Orji, who witnessed the development, said: “So far the election is going well, I have not witnessed any violence but here in Omagba and Osuma wards, we have seen party agents openly canvassing for votes.
“It is not a hidden thing, APGA is paying N10,000 per vote while ADC is paying N5,000.”
Another source who refused to disclose his name said the money “is surely coming from both Soludo and Peter Obi”, insisting that the candidates themselves do not have such money to spare.
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