Hon. Eziohuwa Agbonayinma, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has dismissed allegations of vote buying during the recent Edo State governorship election. The accusations were raised by Yiaga Africa and other civil society organizations, which claimed that major political parties engaged in voter inducement.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Agbonayinma firmly rejected the claims, challenging Yiaga to provide evidence. He emphasized that the APC did not need to buy votes, attributing their success to the widespread frustration of Edo State residents with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Godwin Obaseki’s unfulfilled promises.
“The people were angry, they came out en masse to support and vote for the APC because of their anger,” Agbonayinma stated. He also accused Governor Obaseki of mismanaging federal allocations, including rice meant to alleviate hunger and billions in state funds meant for education and infrastructure, which he claimed “went to voicemail.”
While civil society organizations, including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR), reported instances of vote buying, with prices ranging from ₦5,000 to ₦10,000 per vote, Agbonayinma insisted that APC voters were driven by frustration with the current state government. He further urged security and anti-corruption agencies, such as the EFCC and ICPC, to investigate the alleged misuse of funds by the Obaseki administration.
Agbonayinma highlighted the poor state of healthcare and infrastructure in Edo State, stating that the governor must answer for the state’s massive debt and lack of progress, calling for a probe into the administration’s handling of resources.
Despite the reports from various civil society groups about vote buying with cash and food items, Agbonayinma remained resolute, calling for greater accountability and reforms in the state.
