The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, has alleged vote buying and intimidation of his party’s agents in the ongoing 2025 Anambra governorship election.
Ukachukwu, who voted at his polling unit in Osumenyi Ward 2, Polling Unit 012, described the development as a threat to democracy.
“If there’s no seller, there cannot be a buyer. Some people have chosen to sell their conscience, which is even worse than those buying votes. When you give up your right for money, you lose your voice as a citizen. You can’t cry later, society must be blamed for encouraging this,” the APC candidate said after casting his vote.
Speaking further on reports of intimidation, Ukachukwu said one of his agents had been assaulted during the voting exercise.
“There have been incidents where people are being beaten up. It’s a form of bullying, and though it may seem right to some today, power changes hands. God gives power to whomever He chooses,” he added.
When asked about the situation in Ihiala, one of the state’s flashpoints, Ukachukwu said there had been no major violence or casualties so far.
“So far, there’s been no report of any death or serious unrest,” he said, adding that, “There are always tensions during elections, but for now, it’s largely calm.”
In the same vein, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, John Nwosu, has accused the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of massive vote-buying across Anambra State.
Nwosu made the allegation after casting his vote at Oduda Central School, Ward 2, in Nnewi North Local Government Area. He arrived at his polling unit around 11:28 a.m., where he voted.
Speaking to journalists shortly after voting, Nwosu expressed satisfaction with the turnout but criticised the alleged financial inducement by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s party.
Also, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the ongoing Anambra election, George Moghalu, has alleged that vote-buying is rampart in some parts of the state.
Moghalu said this on Saturday while addressing newsmen at his residence in Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state.
He stressed that despite the heavy deployment of security personnel for the election, he had received reports of widespread vote-buying.
“The situation is scandalous and very embarrassing. The issue of vote-buying is no more a speculation.
“It happened very aggressively in the last by-election. This time around, I’ve been receiving reports of the same thing happening,” he said.
Moghalu further stated that he expects security agencies to clamp down on those involved.
“With the quantity of security personnel that has been brought into Anambra state for the purposes of this election, I expect that vote-buyers by now should have been caught and stopped,” he said.
He described the trend as “most unfortunate”, and warned that the crime undermines the integrity of the electoral process.
“I’m very optimistic. I’ve done everything I should do according to the rules. I sleep peacefully. I watch everything play out. One of the things I present to the people is my experience, both in the public and private sectors. And I always ask people to verify who I am.”