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Vote-Buying Storm: How Cash-For-Ballots Is Crippling Nigeria’s Democracy.

Published

12 months ago

November 15, 2025

According to Nivo News, concerns over vote-buying continue to cast a troubling shadow on Nigeria’s democracy, posing one of the gravest threats to the integrity of elections. Analysts warn that when an election is compromised, it becomes as fragile as a structure built with counterfeit materials—destined to collapse with time. The responsibility for election credibility, they note, rests on all stakeholders, from politicians and electoral officials to security agencies, voters, and party representatives.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Experts stress that vote-buying—an act of influencing voters’ choices through monetary inducement—has deeply infiltrated the country’s electoral culture. It has not only eroded the sanctity of the ballot box but has also become a strategic weapon wielded by desperate contenders seeking to tilt outcomes. While many Nigerians consider the practice immoral, its enticement often proves irresistible. There are also instances where allegations of vote-buying are deployed as political blackmail to delegitimise otherwise credible polls.

Despite the Independent National Electoral Commission’s efforts to enhance transparency, vote-buying continues to dent Nigeria’s electoral scorecard. Observers say the practice has evolved into a sophisticated enterprise that may persist unless stakeholders pursue genuine reforms aimed at eliminating the vice. The electoral umpire, however, remains largely powerless against the monetisation of votes—a tactic many politicians deploy as a last resort when seeking victory.

Security agencies have tried to curb the trend, but results have been limited. Vote-buying operations are often discreet, occurring far from polling centres and outside public view. Even though numerous arrests have been made over offences such as ballot snatching, thuggery, falsified results, and disruptions at collation centres, vote-buyers often escape punishment. Past prosecutions have rarely advanced in court.

Observers link the rising prevalence of vote-buying to the widening disconnect between politicians and the electorate. As competition for political office intensified over the years, politicians and their agents increasingly turned to financial inducements as a means of connecting with voters. Expectations of cash, food items, and even clothing have become commonplace during campaigns, giving rise to the popular mobilisation slogan “di’bo koo se’be” (vote so you can cook soup).

While vote-buying is not unique to Nigeria, it remains a deeply entrenched practice that distorts electoral predictions and undermines confidence in outcomes. Political agents equipped with voter registers identify targets, often negotiating directly with residents within their communities. In many cases, voters exploit the process, dealing with multiple agents although only able to cast a single vote—ultimately favouring the highest bidder.

Poverty plays a significant role, as lower-income voters are more susceptible to inducements. Wealthy individuals and political patrons also influence the process by funding operations and distributing money to community members who look up to them. The rise of electronic transfers has further modernised the scheme, making the transactions less detectable.

However, challenges persist regarding compliance. Some voters accept money but still vote according to their conscience, leaving vote-buyers with no legal recourse. Others breach electoral guidelines by photographing their marked ballots as proof of loyalty to the politician who paid them.

Analysts believe the consequences of vote-buying are severe and far-reaching. It compromises integrity, obscures the true popular choice, distorts voter autonomy, and produces leaders who view public office as an investment to be recouped—fuelling corruption and governance failures.

Although the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission intensifies monitoring during elections, the agency lacks the manpower and resources to cover all polling units nationwide. Experts maintain that eliminating vote-buying requires collective action from candidates, political parties, government institutions, security agencies, traditional authorities, and voters.

INEC has reiterated the need for a dedicated electoral offences tribunal to fast-track prosecutions, placing the responsibility on the National Assembly to act. Analysts insist, however, that the most sustainable solution lies in voter education. They argue that a more enlightened electorate will be less vulnerable to inducement, ultimately strengthening the pillars of democracy and ensuring that elections reflect the genuine will of the people.

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Ogbomoso Rally: Ogunwuyi, Agbeti, 31 Others Dump Makinde’s APM For APC.

Published

10 hours ago

November 11, 2026

NivoNews

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State recorded a significant political boost in Ogbomoso on Monday as Segun Ogunwuyi, a former Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde, and 32 other leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) defected to the ruling party.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

News reports that the defection rally, held at Oja’Gbo near Soun Ogunlola Hall, attracted a massive crowd, causing traffic gridlock in the city centre for more than three hours.

Some of the prominent defectors include Rasak Gbadegesin, popularly known as Agbeti; Timothy Oyeniyi; Alabi Olateju; Dr Banji Folaranmi; Isaiah Adegbite; Peter Oyetunji; and Jimoh Sikiru, the APM chairman in Ogbomoso North.

Also among those who moved to the APC were council secretaries, chiefs of staff, supervisory councillors and aides to the chairmen of Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa local governments.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Ogunwuyi said their decision was aimed at strengthening the APC, expressing confidence that the party would secure a convincing victory across the Ogbomoso zone.

In his remarks, the Oyo State APC chairman, Moses Adeyemo, welcomed the new members and assured them of equal treatment alongside existing party members.

Folaranmi, while explaining his decision to leave the APM, accused Governor Makinde of running the party as a personal affair.

Similarly, the APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, described the mass defection as evidence that the ruling party in Oyo State was losing its political grip.

Alli urged other APM members who had yet to defect to follow the example of the former party leaders.

He said, “For the likes of Segun Ogunwuyi, Alh. Rasak Agbeti and other politicians of substance to abandon Governor Makinde, it means a lot.”

Dignitaries who attended the rally included Senators Ayoade Adeseun and Brimoh Yusuf, Kemi Alao-Akala, the Director-General of the Alli Campaign Council, Yemi Aderibigbe, as well as several APC candidates.

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‘Stop Lying, Nigerians Are Not Hungry’ – Alwan Hassan Fires Back At Opposition.

Published

11 hours ago

November 11, 2026

NivoNews

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Alwan Hassan, has dismissed claims that Nigerians are battling widespread hunger, accusing opposition parties of exaggerating the country’s economic challenges for political reasons.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

His remarks come amid growing concerns over the rising cost of living and the financial difficulties facing many Nigerians.

Hassan made the comments on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he responded to the opposition’s description of the 2027 political contest as a battle between President Bola Tinubu and hungry Nigerians.

Describing the opposition’s position as political rhetoric, the APC chieftain insisted that the level of hunger being portrayed does not reflect the reality in the country.

“That is opposition rhetoric. People are not that hungry. They should stop lying.

“People are not that hungry the way the opposition is portraying it. And I’ll say it anywhere. People are not that hungry,” he stated.

Hassan accused opposition parties of using hunger as a campaign strategy to gain public sympathy rather than addressing the country’s actual economic situation.

He further argued that Nigerians were continuing with their daily activities, including going to markets and workplaces, insisting that the opposition’s portrayal of widespread hunger was exaggerated.

His comments came days after the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulaziz Yari, also dismissed claims of widespread hunger in the country.

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‘Even If It’s My Father’ – Okpebholo Vows To Sign Death Warrants Of Kidnappers.

Published

11 hours ago

November 11, 2026

NivoNews

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has vowed to personally supervise the execution of anyone convicted of kidnapping, declaring that he would not hesitate to sign a death warrant even if the individual involved were his father or a close family member.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Okpebholo made the declaration in a video shared by TheCable on Tuesday while discussing his administration’s efforts to tackle kidnapping and other security challenges in the state.

The governor said his government was determined to rid society of criminals, arguing that kidnappers had caused the deaths of many innocent people.

He said: “I pray our brothers are not involved because I will sign it. Even if it is my father, I will sign it. The truth is this: we just have to get some bad elements out of the system for the system to stand.

“Because somebody will die. But these people are the ones killing people. How many people have we killed?”

Defending his position, Okpebholo pointed to the suffering, injuries and psychological trauma experienced by victims of kidnapping.

He recalled an incident involving a woman who was allegedly pushed during an abduction attempt, saying the fear and trauma alone could have cost her life.

The governor also spoke about an attack on the state’s Chief Judge, claiming that the judge sustained serious injuries during an encounter with kidnappers and lost the use of one hand.

He said: “Just look at the way they were pushing that woman down there. Supposing she died at that, because of fear, only fear. It’s enough for her to die. People have gone through trauma.

“Even our Chief Judge, if you see our Chief Judge, one of his hands was cut off by kidnappers.”

Okpebholo further disclosed that he had contacted the state Attorney-General to enquire about the status of the necessary documents for executing convicted kidnappers.

He said he was awaiting further action but maintained that his administration would continue pursuing the cases through the appeal process.

The governor insisted that nobody convicted of kidnapping would be allowed to escape punishment.

He added: “But we still follow them up on the appeal. We won’t just let them go like that. So we will get to wherever they stop, we will take them from there. We will not spare anybody.

“I stand, if I see this paper today, now, I will sign it and I will even supervise the killing.”

Okpebholo’s comments come amid the implementation of the Edo State Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2025, which introduced the death penalty for kidnapping offences resulting in the death of victims.

The Edo State House of Assembly passed the amendment in February 2025, and the governor signed it into law later that month.

Under the law, kidnappers whose victims survive the incident face life imprisonment, while those involved in abductions that result in the death of victims face the death penalty.

The legislation also prescribes punishment for individuals who assist, support or encourage kidnapping activities.

In September 2026, four men were sentenced to death by a special criminal court in Edo State over the abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City.

The convicts were identified as Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael. They were found guilty of the abduction, which occurred on June 14, 2026, alongside other related offences.

Okpebholo had earlier vowed to sign the death warrants of convicted kidnappers who failed to appeal their sentences within the stipulated 30-day period.

As part of his administration’s efforts to address insecurity, the governor also established a special criminal court to fast-track the trial of kidnapping and cultism cases in the state.