25th September, 2024
By Paul Dada
During the recently held Edo governorship election, Mammon ascended the zenith of wantonness with a befuddling swagger. The agents of the three leading political parties tried to outdo themselves by bribing voters to choose their candidates during the polls.
Nigerian is not bereft of good laws which when violated, should lead to application of deserving sanctions. But in this country, many laws are rather observed in the breach under the watch of law enforcement agents, many of whom are ardent abetters of law breakers.
Sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits vote trading. According to Subsection 4 of Section 121, “Any person who commits the offence of bribery is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both.”
Section 127 poignantly says: “A person who — (a) corruptly by his or herself or by any other person at any time after the date of an election has been announced, directly or indirectly gives or provides or pays money to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person to vote or refrain from voting at such election, or on account of such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting at such election ; or (b) being a voter, corruptly accepts or takes money or any other inducement during any of the period stated in paragraph (a), commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both.”
But in Edo, the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress and the Labour Party did not care a hoot about these provisions of the Electoral Act and the possible consequences of violating them.
I am by definition the Deputy Editor of P.M. News. But I travelled to Edo State to join our Correspondent, Jethro Ibileke to cover the election. I spoke to people, some of whom confessed they were induced.
At Iyaro area of Benin, an agent of a leading political party told me he and his boys collected money from the agents of a rival political party. “They were giving money to my people, not knowing who we were. But we still didn’t vote for them,” he told me with no hint of remorse or an evidence of pangs of the conscience showing on his visage.
A polling officer in Auchi, told me how agents of a political party who thought their candidate were losing in that place, approached him to alter the results.
He said: “Serving as Presiding Officer in the 2024 Edo governorship election was a sobering experience. Deployed to a ward, I witnessed firsthand the pervasive issue of vote-selling. Almost every voter had sold their vote, trading their future for fleeting gains.
“What struck me most was the brazenness of this practice. The fact that I was openly offered a bribe to manipulate the results in favour of a particular party speaks volumes about the depth of corruption.
“This experience reinforced a painful truth: many citizens prioritise short-term benefits over long-term consequences. The desire for immediate gratification blinds people to the potential hardships that may arise from their choices.
“However, my faith and commitment to integrity remained unwavering. I refused the bribe, choosing instead to uphold the sacred trust placed in me”.
Two days before the election, a foremost civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa shared its observations at a conference I attended.
Its Chair of the 2024 Edo Election Mission, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, mentioned some specific places where the PDP and the APC had induced people with financial and material gifts to vote for their candidates.
She said: “Yiaga Africa observers reported incidents of vote
buying in Ikpoba/Okha, Igueben, Esan West, Akoko Edo, Owan West and
Uhunmode LGAs.
“APC and PDP party agents were seen bribing voters with cash (N10,000) at the Igueben – Idumoka Pri School polling unit (12-10-03-004) Ward 1 in Igueben LGA.
“Party agents for APC and PDP
were also seen handing out cash gi s (N10,000) in Enikaro – Enikaro Primary School IX Polling Unit (12-11-07-009) in Ugbekun ward, Ikpoba/Okha LGA”.
She even said vote buying disrupted ths voting process in some areas.
“Voters halted the accreditation and voting process in the Ikpoba—Army Children XI polling unit (12-11-01-011) in Iwogban/Uteh Ward, Ikpoba/Okha LGA because INEC officials arrived without the official stamp
“At Ebua Market Square in Uhunwode LGA, an altercation between APC and PDP supporters over alleged bribery led to the suspension of voting and the destruction of the voting cubicle. Political thugs also disrupted voting at Anyaran Araromi Primary School in Akoko Edo LGA,” she said.
Don’t be moved by reports of arrests of vote buyers made by agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. There were many more acts of vote trading going on in different places before and during the election. In fact, both vote buyers and sellers did their thing while crime abetting and law breaking law enforcers looked away.
It is really shameful that in this country, politicians do not believe in selling themselves and allowing the people to freely make their choice. They take advantage of the poverty of the people and dangle peanuts in form of N10,000 before their faces. Hungry people collect the money and sell their consciences.
I also believe that those who allow themselves to be induced by unscrupulous and shenanigans-crazy politicians, are as guilty as sin. Yes, they may be poor but the pittances given to them by politicians do not solve their problems. They need to look at the big picture.
They are like the Biblical Esau who sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob for a meal. Esau didn’t see the big picture. His craving for instant gratification led to a destiny of perpetual regret.
Our people need to know that the only power they have to decide their destiny is their vote. They, therefore, must guard that power with all they have. They must deploy that power as conscience dictates and not Mammon.
Now that the election has been won and lost, one can only wish that those who belong to the triumphant party will not see governance as an opportunity to reap returns on their investment even if the defeated ones have to bemoan their own loss.
Celebrating the man called Citizen Jones
He is 74 years old. And he has spent 50 of those years as a broadcaster. His name is Jones Usen popularly known as Citizen Jones.
Recently, his family, friends and colleagues gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jones as a broadcaster.
I only met Jones four years ago when I became one of the analysts for TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, a show of which he is one of the anchors.
But years before then, I had been listening to him as the presenter of Kubanji Direct on the radio station then know as Radio Continental. He took over that show upon the demise of its pioneer anchor, Mohmoh Kubanji.
Somehow, I wasn’t conscious of Jones’ exploits when he worked earlier at FRCN even though I was one of the ardent listeners of the station. I followed veteran Radio Nigeria presenters like Orji Ogbonnanya Orji, Mohmoh Kubanji and Emeka Odikpo but missed Jones then.
However, he was one reason I kept loving the show Kubanji Direct. I was drawn to his diction, his elocution and his style of presenting the show.
Later, Radio Continental was rechristened Max FM, and it became an entertainment station. I felt a sense of loss because Kubanji Direct was rested.
But I felt elated when I met Jones as one of the presenters Journalists’ Hangout. Honestly, he is my favourite among the anchors of the show.
Jones has a way with words. He is versatile, witty and friendly. I have regular interactions with him even before we go on air any time I see him at TVC.
I just wish Citizen Jones doesn’t retire any time soon, he still has a lot to offer to broadcasting and our country.
