Ibadan North Bye-Election: ADC Candidate, Akin-Alamu Alleges Vote Buying
•••Laments Over Voter Apathy In Ward 11
•By KAZEEM OYENIYI
IBADAN – THE candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election, Dr Femi Dexter Akin-Alamu, has raised serious allegations regarding large-scale vote buying.
Dr. Dexter Akin-Alamu also lamented over voter apathy in his ward, ward 11 University of Ibadan.
Akin-Alamu, after casting his vote at Ward 11, polling unit 38, University of Ibadan, claimed that from the numerous reports at his disposal, voters were approached with offers of money and other incentives in exchange for their votes during the election.
Akin-Alamu contended that such practices fundamentally undermine the integrity of the electoral process and the principles of democracy.
He stated that when voters are swayed by financial inducements, the true will of the people is obscured, leading to a loss of public trust in democratic institutions.
He further highlighted that the widespread occurrence of vote buying reflects a troubling trend in the political arena, where unethical tactics are employed to secure victory.
The ADC candidate commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the timely arrival of election materials.
He acknowledged that the efficiency helped facilitate the electoral process, allowing for a smoother operation on the voting exercise.
Akin-Alamu also noted a concerning trend of low voter turnout during the election, expressing disappointment that many residents did not participate, which he believes diminishes the overall effectiveness of the democratic process.
He said, “From reports reaching us, the situation remains calm. That said, there are two major concerns. First, the issue of voter apathy remains evident, as many people are not coming out to vote.
“I arrived at my polling unit around 1 p.m. and was only the fourth person to vote, which is very low. Second, vote buying has become a major issue. Unlike before when such acts were done discreetly, it is now being carried out openly, even around security operatives, without anyone questioning it.
“Specifically, reports and videos confirm incidents of vote buying at Polling Units 1, 4, 7, 8, and 12. This is disturbing because it shows that for some political parties, impoverishing the people is part of their election strategy. They keep citizens hungry, then hand out money or items during elections in exchange for votes. Unfortunately, this tactic works more in non-elite areas than in elite areas where such inducements are rejected.
“On INEC’s performance, I still have some concerns about the timing of elections being rushed within weeks despite over a year of preparation. However, unlike in the past, many materials arrived early this time, which is commendable. Yes, there are unconfirmed reports of a few polling units without materials, but overall, INEC has done fairly well. Still, the issue of vote buying must be addressed if we are to improve our democracy.” He said.