If You Don’t Have Billions, You Can’t Win Even A Senatorial Ticket – Ace Nigerian Journalist Decries Spate Of Vote Buying

The spate of election monetization in Nigeria has become a major source of concern to many and this seems to be the major reason there is poor governance across all levels in the country.

This was one of the subjects of debate on the Wednesday edition of TVC Journalists Hangout where a panel of political and current affairs analysts x-rayed the preliminary activities ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti state.

Speaking on the danger of votes monetization between the politicians and voters, Babjide Kolade Otitoju said it is a canckerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of Nigerian politics.

According to the renowned Journalist, even the security officers who are meant to curb such things from happening are the ones that usually carry it out for politicians. 

He cited an instance where voters will cast their votes, use their phone to snap the thumbprint and then take the picture to a nearby police officer who will pay theim on behalf of a politician contesting the election.

He noted that the officers who are there to ensure peaceful conduct of election and ensure that laws and orders are strictly maintained are the one turning around to compromise process. Who will then arest the police officers? He asked rhetorically.

Also speaking on the last Parliamentary bye- election held in Kwara State, Babajide explained how the election was heavily monetized and the entire process compromised by the two dominant political parties in the state.

According to him, billions of naira was expended on the election. If such can be spent on a mere National Assembly election, then how much more will be spent on presidential or governorship election?

In Nigeria, it is difficult to win election if you don’t have billions of naira to spend. He attributed the poor governance currently witnessing in the country as a result of monetization of electoral process.

How do you expect an elected officer to deliver on his campaign promises when he had already bought his way to power?

 If he hasn’t spent money, he can easily be held accountable for his failure but because those who are supposed to ask him or her questions have been bought during the election. This is the situation we are facing in Nigeria today. 

Babajide lamented on Wednesday edition of Journalists Hangout.