In what can be described as flexing of financial muscles between the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the coalition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), both parties have taken to vote buying in the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by-election holding in Anambra State.
While APGA is working to install a replacement for the late lawmaker, Hon Justice Azuka, ADC is fighting to help the demised lawmaker’s wife, Mrs Justina Azuka to replace her husband.
Despite being regarded as a small electoral contest, the Onitsha North by-election has proven to be a tough one, as the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo is striving to prove a point with the election, so as to show popularity ahead of the governorship election in November.
But on the other hand, ADC is also testing the strength of its coalition by using the election as a test case, especially as one of the coalition leaders, Mr Peter Obi is from the state and has also thrown his weight behind the widow in support.
In Omagba area, agents of the APGA were giving out as much as N10,000 to each voter to secure votes, while the ADC is giving out N5,000.
A source, Mr Ikechukwu Orji who witnessed this said: “So far the election is going well, I have not witnessed any incident of violence, but here in Omagba and Osuma wards, we have openly seen party agents canvassing for votes.
“It is not a hidden thing, APGA is paying N10,000 per vote, whe ADC is paying N5,000.”
Another source who refused to disclose his name said the money is surely coming from both Soludo and Peter Obi, insisting that the candidates themselves do not have such money to spare.
