The governorship candidate of the Booth Party in the recently concluded Anambra State election, Okeke Chika Jerry, has made a strong appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take decisive action against vote buying during elections.
Call for Prosecution and Disqualification
Speaking with journalists about the conduct of the poll on November 9, 2025, Okeke described vote buying as what he called "a dangerous trend that continues to undermine Nigeria's democracy." He insisted that the electoral body must demonstrate firmness to curb this practice that threatens the credibility of Nigeria's electoral process.
The candidate was emphatic in his demands: "INEC should, as a matter of urgency, stop vote buying and prosecute those involved—especially party agents." He went further to suggest that "the candidates who fund such practices should also be disqualified." According to Okeke, this stringent approach represents the only effective way to eliminate vote buying in Nigeria's political landscape.
Criticism of Major Political Parties
Okeke did not hold back in his criticism of what he described as the excessive spending habits of major political parties during elections. He argued that these parties deploy large sums of money specifically to influence voters, an action that significantly diminishes the credibility of the democratic process.
"These big parties share huge amounts of money just to win elections," he observed, adding that "it is not a good omen for the image of our country." His comments highlight the growing concern about the role of money in Nigerian politics and its potential to distort electoral outcomes.
Anambra as Benchmark for Future Elections
Beyond the immediate concerns about vote buying, the Booth Party candidate called on INEC to use the Anambra election as a benchmark for future polls by ensuring transparency and strict adherence to electoral laws. He expressed his vision for what the election could represent in the broader context of Nigeria's democratic development.
"INEC should use the Anambra election to show Nigerians what to expect in the 2027 general elections," Okeke stated. He further emphasized that "Anambra is the light of the nation, and this election should reflect that." This statement underscores the significance many attach to the Anambra gubernatorial election as a potential indicator of electoral improvements in Nigeria.
Despite his concerns about financial inducement of voters, the Booth Party candidate acknowledged visible improvements in INEC's conduct of the exercise. He specifically commended the early deployment of materials and the generally peaceful atmosphere observed in several polling units across the state.
Election Outcome Declaration
Meanwhile, INEC has officially declared the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, as the winner of the Anambra State governorship election.
The Returning Officer, Professor Edoba Omoregie (SAN), announced that Soludo secured 422,664 votes to defeat his closest rival, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 99,445 votes.
Professor Omoregie explained that although results were not recorded in six local government areas—Anambra West, Idemili North, Idemili South, Awka South, Ihiala, and Ekwusigo—the margin between the two leading candidates was sufficient for a declaration under the Electoral Act.
"The margin of difference between the scores made by the APGA candidate and the APC candidate was not enough to halt the declaration or call for a run-off," Omoregie stated. He confirmed that Professor Soludo met the legal requirements, having secured 25 percent of votes in at least two-thirds of the local government areas.
The declaration formalizes Professor Soludo's position as the duly elected governor of Anambra State, even as calls for electoral reforms from candidates like Okeke Chika Jerry continue to echo through Nigeria's political landscape.
