Anambra 2025: Soludo’s Reward Promise Aimed at Tackling Voter Apathy, Not Vote Buying – Anambra Govt

From Marcus Nkire

The Anambra State Government has defended Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s campaign remarks promising rewards for All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) strongholds that perform well in the forthcoming November 8 election, insisting the statement was not an attempt to buy votes but a strategy to combat voter apathy.

Responding to allegations from opposition parties, the governor’s press secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, clarified that Soludo’s comment was being misinterpreted, stressing that the incentives were meant to motivate party canvassers, not induce voters.

According to Aburime, the governor’s message should be viewed in context, as it aligns with democratic practices that encourage voter participation rather than compromise electoral integrity.

“Governor Soludo’s incentives are designed to fight voter apathy. They are intended to motivate party canvassers to mobilize eligible voters, not to buy votes,” Aburime said. “In politics worldwide, including in America, political parties pay canvassers to encourage voter turnout. The difference here is that our incentives will only come after the election—and only if APGA wins in their wards.”

He likened the arrangement to a company rewarding its marketers after achieving sales targets, describing it as “a legitimate, competition-driven exercise.”

Governor Soludo, during one of his campaign stops, had told supporters, “Don’t sit at home and say Soludo has won. We have to win when you have voted. APGA stands for one man, one vote, and a free and fair election. We will cooperate with INEC to ensure this is the most credible election ever conducted.”

Aburime reiterated that Soludo remains committed to transparency and credibility in the electoral process, emphasizing that the governor’s priority is to encourage voter participation and ensure every ballot counts.

“Governor Soludo has consistently called for cooperation with INEC and for votes to be cast, counted, and announced transparently. His statements about incentives are noble and geared toward addressing voter apathy, not influencing voters.”

The spokesperson noted that voter apathy has been a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s elections, and Soludo’s initiative aims to re-energize grassroots mobilization for improved participation.

“If party canvassers work hard and convince people to come out and vote, then they deserve to be appreciated after the election,” Aburime said. “That’s the spirit of the incentive.”

He dismissed the opposition’s allegations of vote buying as “unfounded and misleading,” urging the public to focus on the governor’s genuine efforts to strengthen democratic engagement in Anambra State.