Former Nigerian Senator Shehu Sani has taken to his verified Twitter account to express concern over the persistent issue of vote-buying in the country’s political landscape.
In a recent tweet, Sani highlighted how political parties in Edo State are preparing to engage in vote-buying ahead of upcoming elections, while voters themselves are ready to accept the money in exchange for their votes.
“In Edo, parties are reportedly preparing for vote buying and voters are preparing to receive; Nothing has changed and no lessons learned,” Sani tweeted, emphasizing the cyclic nature of this electoral malpractice.
This tweet emphasizes the challenges faced in Nigeria’s democracy, where despite various reforms and warnings from electoral bodies, the trend of vote-buying continues unabated. Sani’s statement reflects frustration over how voters are easily swayed by financial incentives rather than policy-driven campaigns or genuine leadership qualities. Vote-buying has been a recurring issue in many Nigerian elections, leading to questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the long-term consequences for governance.
Sani’s remarks point to the broader issue of how electoral malpractices compromise the quality of leadership that emerges, resulting in the electorate being subjected to economic hardships once politicians, who gained power through such means, fail to deliver on their promises. The electorate, often disillusioned, bears the brunt of bad governance after short-term financial gains.