A former Governoship aspirant and an Accord Party Chieftain in Ogun State, Omooba Segun Adewale, OSA, has described the cash for vote system witnessed in the just concluded Ekiti State governorship election as worrisome and detrimental to Nigeria’s democracy.
Adewale stated this in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Oluwaseyi Babarinde, and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Monday.
He frowned at reports of financial inducements orchestrated by the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State during the election.
He described the development as disturbing, adding that it could lead to an impoverished State and further affect the physical development and welfare of the state and the citizens.
Adewale wondered why the Federal government was so desperate to win at all cost to the extent that it brought billions of naira to Ekiti in an attempt to capture a state from an opposition party.
He said: ” This development proves that the masses support for the Buhari-led government is dwindling everyday due to failure of government to find solutions to the social-economic and security challenges facing them, hence the decision to buy votes.
” Where did they see the billions of naira that was spent on buying votes when the masses are wallowing in abject poverty. Monies that could be channelled towards achieving good governance, ” Adewale said.
He appealed to Nigerians especially the good people of Ogun State to resist desperate politicians when they come to deceive them with cash to sell their votes.
“As we approach the 2019 general elections, I urge the people of Ogun state to remain resolute and be determined to vote out anyone who has failed to fulfill the promises he or she made. Our destinies are in our hands”.
Adewale, who is an advertising practitioner tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies especially the Nigeria Police Force and Civil Societies to see that the scenario that played out in Ekiti does not happen in the forthcoming elections.
He added that they had a great work to do if the country must stop the trend from damaging the electoral system.