4 days ago
12
By Vincent Ujumadu
The Anambra State Government has clarified that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s caller committedness to members of his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was intended to code elector apathy — not ballot buying arsenic alleged by absorption parties.
In a connection connected Thursday, the Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Aburime, said the governor’s remarks astatine a governmental rally were being misinterpreted. He explained that Soludo’s pledge to reward governmental wards wherever APGA performs good successful the November 8 predetermination was aimed astatine motivating enactment canvassers to mobilize voters, not astatine inducing voters financially.
“It is indispensable to recognize the discourse of the statement. The incentives Governor Soludo referred to are morganatic and accordant with antiauthoritarian practices worldwide,” Aburime said.
According to him, the governor’s connection was directed astatine APGA members and grassroots mobilizers, who marque up little than 5 percent of the voting population, to promote them to get voters to enactment actively successful the election.
“In authorities globally, including successful precocious democracies similar the United States, parties wage canvassers earlier elections. In our case, we said immoderate ward that delivers volition beryllium rewarded afterwards — this is not ballot buying,” Aburime explained.
Quoting the governor, helium added:
“Don’t beryllium astatine location and accidental Soludo has won. We person to triumph erstwhile you person voted. We successful APGA basal for 1 man, 1 vote, transparent, free, and just election. We are going to cooperate with INEC to marque definite this is the freest and astir credible predetermination ever conducted.”
Aburime stressed that Governor Soludo remains firmly committed to transparent and credible elections, adding that his administration’s absorption is connected combating elector apathy — 1 of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy.
“The governor’s telephone is for voters to travel out, formed their votes, and guarantee results are counted and announced transparently. The thought of rewarding canvassers aft the predetermination is simply to promote greater participation,” helium said.
He described absorption claims of ballot buying arsenic “unfounded, misleading, and politically motivated,” insisting that Soludo’s grounds of show and nationalist designation speaks for itself.
“A politician with specified a way grounds of achievements doesn’t request to bargain votes to triumph re-election,” Aburime stated.
As the November 8 predetermination approaches, helium urged each parties to absorption connected issues and policies that substance to Anambra people, alternatively than engaging successful “shadow-chasing and mischief.”
English (US) ·