Candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State, Jeff Nweke has said vote buying is one of the greatest obstacle to good governance in Nigeria.
The candidate stated this on Sunday., during a church service at Hear the Word of God Church in Nkwelle, Awka Soyth Local Government Area, where he was given the privilege to preach to congregants.
He said with the coming election in the state, many politicians are already positioning themselves to buy up votes in the election.
Nweke said vote-buying is one of Nigeria’s most stubborn political ill, describing it as one of the greatest obstacles to good governance.
He warned voters of the long-term consequences of selling their votes for cash.
“The money you collect today means you’ve taken your share of basic infrastructure in advance. You then lose the moral right to challenge bad governance.
“As I’m speaking to you all now, I know if I decide to say that everyone in this church will go home with one million each, you all will be happy. But you must ask yourself, how will this guy recover the money he has given out?
“That is why after buying your votes, many politicians, once they get to office, they stop seeing you. They have to settle down to recover the money they spent.
“We must all join hands to stop it. We know that times are hard, if they give you money, collect it, but you must vote for your conscience, you must vote not because you were given money, but because you know who can do the job.”
He urged the electorate to pray not only for good leaders but also for voters who would reject money politics and choose leaders committed to uplifting lives.
Nweke reminded eligible citizens without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to register with INEC, stressing that voting is both a right and a civic duty.
“You cannot claim to support someone yet fail to register—your voice won’t count in shaping the future of Anambra State,” he added.
