By Vincent Ujumadu
The Anambra State authorities has stated that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s promise to members of his social gathering, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, throughout political rallies, that political wards the place APGA wins the November 8 election could be rewarded later was to combat voter apathy to not purchase votes.
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Reacting to allegations by opposition political events that the promise amounted to vote- shopping for, the press secretary to the governor, Mr. Christian Aburime stated the purpose of the promise was to combat voter apathy through the election and due to this fact, shouldn’t be interpreted as vote-buying.
Aburime stated it’s important to look at the context during which the assertion was made and make clear the true nature of the incentives talked about by Governor Soludo, which, he argued, are totally reputable and in step with democratic ideas.
Governor Soludo too has additionally emphasised that the incentives promised weren’t meant to purchase votes, however to encourage social gathering canvassers to mobilize voters.
Whereas addressing social gathering supporters throughout one among his campaigns, Soludo had said. “Don’t sit at house and say Soludo has gained. We’ve got to win when you might have voted. We in APGA stand for one man, one vote, clear, free and truthful election. We’re going to cooperate with INEC to be sure that this would be the freest, most credible election ever carried out by INEC.”
Insisting that the assertion didn’t translate to compromising voters, the governor’s press secretary stated that Governor Soludo likened the incentives to a producer rewarding his entrepreneurs for elevated gross sales, which is a reputable train.
He stated: “Keep in mind that members of political events represent lower than 5 % of voters. So, it’s members of our political social gathering as canvassers who might be given the inducement to mobilize voters to the polling models. In politics everywhere in the world, together with America, political events pay canvassers earlier than elections.
“However in our personal case, we’re not paying them earlier than the election. We are saying to them that in the event that they win their wards, we may have a prize for them. Positively, the rewards coming for social gathering canvassers (not voters) after the election can’t qualify as somebody inducing voters earlier than the election.
“Governor Soludo has repeatedly emphasised his dedication to a free, truthful, and clear election. He has referred to as for cooperation with the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) to make sure that the election is credible and that each vote counts.
“We simply need folks to solid the votes, depend the votes, announce the votes and know who the winner might be. His name for voters to solid their ballots and for the outcomes to be precisely introduced clearly underscores his dedication to democratic ideas.
However the true subject in that is voter apathy. One of many key challenges in any election in modern Nigeria is voter apathy. Governor Soludo’s incentives are designed to fight this subject by motivating canvassers to interact with voters and encourage participation.”
“So, in case you work laborious and persuade folks to come back out to vote, then now we have a reward for you after the election. That is mandatory because of voter apathy, which was an issue in earlier elections.”
The governor’s press secretary argued that the allegation of vote shopping for towards Governor Chukwuma Soludo was unfounded and deceptive.”His statements about offering incentives are clear, noble and competition-driven; they’re meant to reward the laborious work of social gathering canvassers and to fight voter apathy.”
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