The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, have cast their votes, expressing concern over alleged widespread vote-buying across the state.
Governor Soludo and his wife, Nonye Soludo, voted at 1:20 p.m. at their polling unit in Isuofia. The governor carefully retrieved his voter card before casting his ballot and described the voting process as “smooth and well-organized.” After voting, he urged Anambrarians to participate in the election.
However, Soludo alleged that a political party candidate had engaged in vote-buying to influence voters at his polling unit.
Earlier, APC governorship candidate Nicholas Ukachukwu, who cast his vote at Osumenyi Ward 2, Polling Unit 012, also decried incidents of vote-buying and intimidation of his party agents, describing the situation as a serious 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,” Ukachukwu said.
He added that, so far, there had been no reports of deaths or serious unrest. “There are always tensions during elections, but for now, it’s largely calm,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Ukachukwu expressed optimism about his chances in the election. “I believe in God that winning is still possible; the day is still young,” he added.
As voting continues, attention remains focused on ensuring a free, fair, and transparent election, amid growing concerns over vote-buying and other electoral malpractices across the state.
