APGA says Governor Soludo’s ₦1m-per-ward election incentive aims to combat voter apathy and encourage participation, not to buy votes.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has defended Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s promise to reward party wards with ₦1 million each for victories in the November 8 governorship election, describing it as a strategic measure to curb voter apathy rather than vote-buying.
The governor, who is also the APGA candidate, made the announcement during a campaign rally in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, sparking criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups.
Critics labelled the pledge an open inducement and a violation of the Electoral Act.
In a statement on Sunday, APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, dismissed the allegations, saying, “Now, this is not about vote-buying in any way; it is about initiating healthy competition amongst members of our party across wards and local governments.”
Opara said the initiative was designed to inspire voter participation in a state where “2.7 million registered voters produced less than 200,000 actual votes” in 2021.
He added that APGA hopes to mobilise one million votes through the effort, insisting that “APGA is the dominant party and does not require inducement to win.”
Sixteen candidates are contesting the November 8 election in Anambra.