₦airaland Forum

Canvassers are people who go door to door to convince people to come out and vote for a candidate. They also phone potential voters to convince and encourage them to vote for the candidate.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI_T-qqiR98?si=p8iO5TUfgyw5cJbH

The political parties constitute less than 5% of the voting population. The members of the political parties constitute less than 5%. So it is members of the political party that are being given incentive to work hard as canvassers to mobilize voters to the polling unit.

In any campaign all over the world, political campaigns pay the canvassers. In our own case, we are not paying them. We're only saying if you win, we will have a prize for you. That's what it is.

Somebody said, "Oh, maybe it's vote buying." I said, "You need. . .maybe your own dictionary is different about what it means to be vote buying."

Incentivizing your people to work hard. You are incentivizing your sales agents to go and sell more. That's what it is.

And so prior to the bye-election, we also gave the incentives and told you if you won, if any ward deliver that we have a prize for you. That's your reward for the victory in August, isn't it? Because you worked hard.

You as canvassers, you convinced others. You went door to door and convinced voters to come out. You have your prize. Okay.

Now for the coming one. So you go and work hard. Instead of paying you up front, we provide incentives. It's like people who are sales people working on commission agent, isn't it? As commission. So if you work hard and you sell more, you mobilize people, convince people to come to the vote and vote, then we have a reward for you after. We are not paying the agents before. Okay.

Abroad in America and so on, they pay their agents and canvasers beforehand. Now we give you reward after they win.

The allegations that Governor Soludo was responding to.

Soludo’s cash-for-votes pledge stirs controversy

26th October 2025

by Imoleayo Oyedeyi, Daniel Ayantoye, Olufemi Adediran, Gift Habib, Ikenna Obianeri, Muhammed Lawal and Ayoola Olasupo

Governor Chukwuma Soludo has stirred controversy after announcing cash reward for every ward won by his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, in the forthcoming November 8 governorship election.

While speaking on Saturday during the party’s campaign rally in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, Soludo promised to give his party supporters N1m.

He said, “When we were campaigning for the Senate, we knew we were going to win every ward in the South Senatorial Zone, but we still had some incentives. Any ward that APGA won received N1m, and we won all the wards in Orumba South.

“We promised each of these wards N1m and next week, we will redeem it. The ward that comes first will get N5m, the second N3m and the third N2m. That was the deal. For November 8, any ward that wins again will receive N1m, while the first three performing wards will get N5m, N2m and N1m respectively.”

The pledge provoked backlash from opposition parties and civil society organisations, which described the move as open inducement and a gross violation of the Electoral Act.

About 2.8 million registered voters are expected to participate in the poll, in which 16 political parties and their candidates will contest the governorship seat.

The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, had emphasised the significance of the Anambra election in consolidating the country’s democracy.

Opposition fumes

The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the South-East, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, said Soludo’s action amounted to vote-buying and abuse of office.

“Clearly, this is vote-buying and against the electoral law. Soludo has been carrying out undemocratic activities in this election. He has been forcing communities to commit their votes through their leaders.

“The N1m offer is just one of many. We will write to INEC, EFCC, police, and other relevant security agencies about his actions,” Arodiogbu said.

Similarly, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, urged INEC to act swiftly, describing Soludo’s promise as “a public confession of vote-buying.”

The Labour Party also criticised the governor, accusing him of weaponising poverty.

“This is not good for democracy. Why is he giving out money now that elections are near? This is vote-buying and manipulation. He has failed in governance and now wants to buy legitimacy with money. We will raise this matter at the next stakeholders’ meeting with INEC,” LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said.

A former Zonal Organising Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mike Ahumibe, also faulted the development, saying it undermined electoral integrity.

He said, “Once there is money involved, it is no longer free and fair. Elections should be about the people’s choice, not about who can pay the most.”

Gov’s move dangerous, INEC must act — CSOs

Also, some civil society organisations described the governor’s promise as dangerous.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership and rights activist, Debo Adeniran, said Soludo’s action had institutionalised vote-buying and monetised the electoral process in the state.

Adeniran said, “This is reprehensible. The governor of a state should be a shining example of good behaviour. Vote-buying is an electoral crime for which the governor could be tried once he relinquishes his immunity. It is a way of instigating the people against the law.

“What he has done amounts to electoral indiscipline and a criminal act. The authorities should stop him. INEC, under Amupitan, should take exceptional notice of it and apply the appropriate section of the law to discipline the governor. His immunity doesn’t cover electoral offences.”

Corroborating this view, a former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Alhaji Yabagi Sani, described the governor’s move as a dangerous precedent capable of undermining democratic values.

He explained that the statement amounted to an open attempt to commercialise the electoral process, which could fuel electoral malpractice and weaken public confidence in governance.

Sani called on INEC, the police, and the EFCC to investigate the statement, noting that a formal letter should be sent to him to clarify his remarks.

He said, “It will have a lot of negative influence on politics because it means he has openly commercialised the election, and that is clear rigging. The money he’s talking about is the people’s money, which he wants to use to win the election because others do not have access to it. Even if they did, it’s not a good practice at all. That’s a bad idea for democracy.

“They preach against the use of money in elections, yet some of these people are commercialising the process to gain advantage. I think INEC, the police, and EFCC should also ask him to explain his statement. A letter should be sent to him to clarify why he made such a remark because it runs contrary to the laws of the land.”

Also, an election monitoring group, YIAGA Africa, described Soludo’s promise as a threat to democracy.

Speaking in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the Media and Communication Officer of YIAGA Africa, Jennifer Dafwat, called for a stiffer punishment for politicians caught engaging in vote-buying.

Dafwat said Soludo’s statement further highlighted a deep-rooted problem in Nigeria’s political culture, where incentives and material rewards are used to influence voters’ choices long before election day.

She said, “Vote-buying is not limited to the act of exchanging money on election day. It includes any form of incentive meant to sway people’s decisions in favour of a candidate.
What Governor Soludo said clearly falls within that category.”

She explained that such offers take advantage of widespread poverty and hunger, turning elections into transactions rather than contests of ideas and competence.


Anambra govt dismisses allegations

Reacting to the allegations, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, dismissed the accusations of vote-buying, describing the governor’s promise as a simple act of motivation to energise supporters.

The commissioner accused opposition parties of deliberate mischief, insisting that the governor’s remarks were taken out of context.

“How does motivation for supporters amount to vote-buying? I don’t see how this amounts to selling and buying of votes, even if it’s true.

“Vote-buying, in my view, is the act of purchasing votes. A vote must be priced and bought; that’s vote-buying. So, how many votes has Soludo purchased by such a promise?” he queried.

Speaking further, he said “Though I didn’t hear the governor say it, I don’t see anything wrong with a leader motivating his supporters. We have two forms of motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic motivation is material reward, which could be monetary.”

Over 22,000 ad hoc staff to be employed

Meanwhile, INEC has disclosed plans to deploy over 22,000 ad hoc staff of various categories to man the polling units across Anambra State for the forthcoming governorship election.

Speaking during a press briefing at the INEC headquarters in Awka on Saturday, the National Commissioner supervising Anambra and Chairman of the Tenders Board Committee, Dr Kenneth Ikeagu, said about 540 accredited journalists would also participate in the exercise.

According to information obtained by Sunday PUNCH, Anambra State has a total of 5,720 polling units.

Each unit, in line with INEC’s standard procedure, will be manned by four officials—one Presiding Officer and three Assistant Presiding Officers (APO I, II, and III)—bringing the total number of ad hoc personnel to approximately 22,800.

In addition, Supervisory Presiding Officers will be assigned to oversee activities at the various ward centres across the state.

When asked about the number of registered voters who had collected their Permanent Voter Cards as of Saturday, Ikeagu said he did not have the exact figure, noting that the collection exercise was still ongoing.

He added that the total number of collected PVCs would be made public at the end of the exercise.

Ikeagu stressed that the collection period would not be extended except on special directive from the INEC headquarters.

He further expressed confidence in the level of voter enlightenment ahead of the poll.

“Anambra people are very knowledgeable and have been adequately sensitised on how and when to vote. The election will start at 8:30am and end at 2:30pm. Anyone on the queue within that period will be allowed to cast their ballot,” he said.

PVC collection suffers setback

In the meantime, the PVC collection exercise, which began on Wednesday across the state and is expected to end on Sunday (today), has recorded low turnout across several parts of the state.

Findings by one of our correspondents, who visited collection centres in Amawbia, Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, and other locations, revealed that the process had not progressed as smoothly as anticipated.

At most of the centres visited, registered voters were seen waiting in long queues to collect their cards, but with only one or two INEC officials available, the process moved slowly.
Some frustrated voters were observed leaving the centres without being attended to.

INEC officials at Uruagu Ward 11 and Akaboezem centres in Nnewi, as well as Imeudo Ward 1 centre in Onitsha attributed the slow pace to ongoing business and commercial activities across the state.

They, however, said the exercise had remained peaceful with no incidents of violence recorded.

Commenting on the exercise, the immediate past Publicity Secretary of the APC and a member of the party’s governorship campaign council, Okelo Madukaife, expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of the process.

Madukaife acknowledged that the exercise had been peaceful but lamented that it was moving too slowly due to insufficient INEC personnel.

“Apart from a few cases of law violations by APGA, things are generally running smoothly but slowly, based on the information available to us. INEC should deploy more personnel to speed up the process,” he said.

Also reacting, Johnson Okoye, the Special Assistant on Media to the Labour Party candidate, Dr George Moghalu, blamed INEC for the sluggish collection, saying the commission failed to create adequate awareness for the exercise.

He said, “This experience shows that while our people are willing and eager to collect their PVCs, the process itself needs urgent improvement. INEC must deploy more staff, provide additional equipment, and ensure that the process is faster and more efficient.

“Another challenge is lack of awareness. Many of our people, especially those from the LP strongholds, didn’t even know that their voter’s cards are ready for collection. I therefore call on INEC to intensify public sensitisation, especially in rural areas, through radio, community leaders, and local announcements.

“The PVC remains the only power the people have to determine the future of our state. I encourage every eligible voter to make the effort to collect theirs, because that card is our voice, our choice, and our tool to build a better Anambra.”

https://punchng.com/soludos-cash-for-votes-pledge-stirs-controversy/

You said you’ve turned Anambra to Dubai, why not just use that line to campaign?

Just tell the people what you’ve done and what more you can do.

Whatever. Do what’s needed to win. Politics is not a moral enterprise. Trump did not win by playing nice. Those accusing you are also doing worse so damn them. The end justify the means.

Whenever you're looking for power, make sure you're ready for it. Be it at your place for work, religious center, or in government. If you're not ready, no put body.

madridguy:
Whenever you're looking for power, make sure you're ready for it. Be it at your place for work, religious center, or in government. If you're not ready, no put body.

Power without money 🤑💰

..soludo!..soludo!!..soludo!!!..

..how many times were you called..soludo work for your people...& stop using the guru strategy of vote buying like a thug wannabee..

..soludo..don't make urself a laughing stock to Laptop snatchers..ur enemies & indeed enemies of Ndigbo are waiting to use you as a scape goat...

..be warned..

Soluwar abi soluagha should shut up his mouth, he's now trying to change what's on the paper and on the internet.

I thought he said he's the best thing that ever happened to Anambra, why is he now buying vote, using mumu English to confuse himself and his gullible...

Spending people taxes anyhow

Why grease the palms of party agents without greasing the palms of actual voters ?

E nor go work

NO EXPLANATION. NO VACANCY IN ANAMBRA GOVERNMENT HOUSE. SOLUDO IS THE SOLUTION

MaziObinnaokija:
NO EXPLANATION. NO VACANCY IN ANAMBRA GOVERNMENT HOUSE. SOLUDO IS THE SOLUTION

in the south west they will call it vote buying but the same thing in the south east is called canvassing,interesting
A starving person will be mocking a hungry man…whey will always accuse another person of what they are most guilty of.

Canvassers not vote buying ni o!

seunmsg:
Whatever. Do what’s needed to win. Politics is not a moral enterprise. Trump did not win by playing nice.

Those accusing you are also doing worse so damn them. The end justify the means.

What of governance? Is it a moral enterprise?

What do Americans understand about governance that has made their country so successful that pots and pans compromised Soyinka is wailing like a baby because they cancelled his visa?


https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=793504558346542&vanity=renewedhopeuk

wunmi590:

I thought he said he's the best thing that ever happened to Anambra, why is he now buying vote, using mumu English to confuse himself and his gullible...

Do you think that he copied this from the Lagos a-looter master planner? The man who has increased tax burden on the people without increasing the number of well paid workers to make education free for all children and water available for all households?

ICYMI: I said I was richer than Osun State, Tinubu admits

However, Buhari doesn’t have the kind of money I can steal neither does he have the money I can collect. He doesn’t even have the money for Lagos votes. So, whatever I promise, it’s for real and is coming from my pocket. It’s not until I go to Alausa before I get money to give you.”

Addressing APC supporters on the need to deliver votes, Tinubu said handsome cash rewards await those who can deliver votes for the party.

He said he would not make mistakes of the past where people would collect money in advance and not deliver on election day.

Tinubu added, “Those of you that say you come to Bourdillon for mobilisation, it is mobilisation that we are doing here or don’t you understand? Definitely, if you know people in your neighbourhood, our members, how we used to do.

https://punchng.com/i-said-i-was-richer-than-osun-state-tinubu-admits/

>>
>>>>

The eyesore on Bourdillon Road
2nd January 2025

Beyond his neighbours, there is something about the sight of people hanging around a president’s residence that does not speak well of his leadership capabilities. Maybe no one has nudged him to see it, but the impression that spectacle on Bourdillon Road generates is that Tinubu enjoys the sight of suffering humans and thrives in—and through— their poverty.

If all these years, impoverished people hang around you and you remain comfortable enough to keep them just so they can be handed tokens of your large heart, then it means you have a pro-poverty mindset. Such a frame of mind is oriented toward cultivating poverty rather than stimulating abundance.

That is why he could unproblematically relate the story of his “friend” who went from using five Rolls Royce to a far-less valued car and not consider the import of the nonsense he was saying. That spurious account was an indication that this is a man for whom poverty—of others, not himself—is an ideal.

https://punchng.com/the-eyesore-on-bourdillon-road/

These people will not stop to amaze me. lol. Canvassers KO, All-Star ni

Politicians canvasses for votes all over the world..and yes, the political party members are the canvassers.

It's not a new thing...we saw USA Presidential elections... people shared groceries to canvass for votes and it was party members going from door to door.

Just imagine Governor Soludo trying to use our head again and confuse us the more. Professor is taking us to an unknown destination. Professor, don't worry, nothing do you. APC did it in Edo State and other states and nothing happened, go ahead and do yours abeg...... Just pay for the votes as you promised. Promise na promise, agreement na agreement....

Every political party involves in vote buying directly or indirectly. Usually when any candidate comes for campaign, normally he or she will give the constituencies he/she visited a huge sum of money for all attendees of the campaign rally.

But here What Solution Gov said is not vote buying but giving incentives to canvassers. There was voting aparty in Anambra State due to UGM threats. So canvassers will encourage people to come en masse during election day

Canvassers will convince people to come out to vote.

seunmsg:
Whatever. Do what’s needed to win. Politics is not a moral enterprise. Trump did not win by playing nice. Those accusing you are also doing worse so damn them. The end justify the means.

God bless you bro,, all political spend money to wooes voters, but it is just that Soludo financial prowess is more high than others

Let them no who work most choop

Let this thing change us to be holy

seunmsg:
Whatever. Do what’s needed to win. Politics is not a moral enterprise.Those accusing you are also doing worse so damn them. The end justify the means.

Still affirming the moral depravity associated with evil politicians. So even if such is the norm, then it should be encouraged.

No wonder your kind gave Nigeria a man with the worst moral baggages ever seen in a fraudulent president. Don't worry posterity got you.

No matter how Soludo tries to twist this its still a vote buying

Lanretoye:
in the south west they will call it vote buying but the same thing in the south east is called canvassing,interesting
A starving person will be mocking a hungry man…whey will always accuse another person of what they are most guilty of.

You will better off reading quietly before commenting

On this thread igbos are condemning the act while it's your yoruba brothers are supporting it because obviously that's what tinubu plans to use. So next time do a little reading

Tochi3:


..soludo!..soludo!!..soludo!!!..

..how many times were you called..soludo work for your people...& stop using the guru strategy of vote buying like a thug wannabee..

..soludo..don't make urself a laughing stock to Laptop snatchers..ur enemies & indeed enemies of Ndigbo are waiting to use you as a scape goat...

..be warned..

According to him,he gave out 1m naira to wards in the Senatorial elections and APGA won.
He is just doing what he knows how to do best.

Looks like this man will decamp to APC soon, already talking like them

wunmi590:



I thought he said he's the best thing that ever happened to Anambra, why is he now buying vote, using mumu English to confuse himself and his gullible...

Because you don't understand Nigeria politics, does majority of electorates in this country look like people that can reason in the present of cash reward on election day? He is way smarter than you think, if he doesn't play the game, opposition will use the same tactic and defeat him.

They can't do without vote buying......most of the Nigeria politicians engage in vote buying....Obi refused to give anyone shishi.....

Mobilise & money are like 5&6 in this part of the world