Our Correspondent | Awka
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has defended Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, over his recent pledge to reward party wards with cash incentives during the forthcoming November 8 governorship election, describing the move as a “strategic initiative” to boost voter participation and healthy competition — not vote-buying.
Governor Soludo, who is also APGA’s candidate in the election, sparked controversy on Saturday when he announced at a campaign rally in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, that each ward won by the party would receive ₦1 million, with additional rewards of ₦5 million, ₦3 million, and ₦2 million for the top three performing wards.
“When we were campaigning for the Senate, we knew we were going to win every ward in the South Senatorial Zone, but we still had some incentives,” Soludo said at the rally. “For November 8, any ward that wins again will receive ₦1m, while the first three performing wards will get ₦5m, ₦2m, and ₦1m respectively.”
The announcement immediately drew criticism from opposition parties and civil society organisations, who accused the governor of attempting to induce voters and breach provisions of the Electoral Act.
‘A Push Against Voter Apathy’ — APGA
In a swift response on Sunday, APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, dismissed the allegations, insisting that the initiative was “purely an internal mobilisation effort” to inspire participation within the party and tackle the long-standing issue of voter apathy in Anambra.
“This is not about vote-buying in any way; it is about initiating healthy competition among our members across wards and local governments — a competition that will translate into increased voter participation,” Opara said.
He argued that APGA remains the dominant political force in Anambra and requires no form of inducement to win elections, citing past examples of voters rejecting monetary offers from rival parties.
“If you look at previous elections, Anambra had about 2.7 million registered voters in 2021, yet less than 200,000 actually voted. Our target now is to mobilise one million votes for APGA. That demands incentives that promote engagement, not vote-buying,” he added.
Opara noted that the party was addressing what it termed the “complacency of the majority” — a situation where large voter support exists in theory but translates poorly into actual votes.
The November 8 governorship poll in Anambra will feature 16 candidates representing different political parties, all vying to unseat Soludo or prevent his re-election bid.
Political analysts note that APGA’s strategy to introduce financial incentives at the ward level could reshape voter mobilisation in a state where turnout has traditionally been low, although critics warn that such methods may blur the line between motivation and inducement.
Soludo, a former Central Bank Governor, is seeking a second term on the strength of his governance reforms and local economic policies, while opposition parties, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and Labour Party (LP), are expected to mount strong challenges.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to comment on whether Soludo’s promise contravenes electoral guidelines, but observers say the debate underscores the tension between voter engagement strategies and the legal boundaries of campaign conduct in Nigeria.