Professor Soludo, while voting at his polling unit at Ofiyi Square, Umueze, Isuofia Ward 13, Aguata Local Government Area, decried incidence of vote buying which he said was reported in some polling units in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state.
Soliudo, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said though he commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a peaceful and orderly election process, there were cases of vote-buying in some areas.
“Though there are some glitches at polling units in Olumbanasa in Anambra West, where the BVAS reportedly did not work as expected, on the average, the election is going well,” he said.
“The only concern we have received is in one or two places in Nnewi South where we understand that there has been massive vote buying. Some voters are being paid as much as N15,000,” he said.
He expressed confidence in his party’s chances, saying the election would be won on the basis of ‘one man, one vote’.
He also alleged that a political party was planning to manipulate results during collation.
“The only concern and we hope it does not happen is that one political party’s strategy is to swap results during collation.
“They even told their polling agents not to write results properly or upload them on IReV to create room for manipulation.
“But we have confidence in the system. Our people are vigilant, organised and united. We will follow the process from the polling units to the wards, LGAs and the state.
“If the system works as designed, we have no doubt that we will win all 21 local government areas,” Soludo said.
Also, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Chief George Muoghalu, alleged vote buying in some of the polling units, while urging INEC to rise to its responsibility of making the process credible.
“I am not impressed; there were no issues of glitches, at least for now. As we go along to monitor the process, we’ll confirm.
“I can’t say it’s free and fair because if you monetise a process, you weaponise poverty. What’s free about it?
“There’s no doubt there’s low voter turnout; and that has been the trend,” he said.
Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Nicholas Ukachukwu, also alleged widespread vote buying at the governorship election in the state.
Ukachukwu made the allegation in an interview shortly after casting his vote at Polling Unit 012, Umudimala Amaihe Hall, Osumenyi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state.
The APC candidate specifically accused the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of vote-buying across all polling units.
“From what I have been hearing, there have been reports of hitches and security challenges but largely, there have been vote buying.
“That has become the biggest menace that will witch hunt this country to a standstill. It will come to a point where leaders, who have the opportunity to be in power, will not be able to do anything,” he said.
Ukachukwu said that from one or two places that his people had visited, there were many things going on, including vote-buying.
“It is a collective treasury that has been looted and given back to the people to get back their mandate. It is a bad thing that everybody should condemn.
“So far, there has been no report of death or any major incidence of mishap,” he added.
The APC governorship candidate called for collective condemnation of what he called a bad practice, urging security agencies to live up to their responsibility to curb electoral fraud.
An election observer from the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, Ms Dimma Nwobi, expressed concerns over vote-buying and security lapses at some polling units in Nnewi South.
Nwobi made the observation while speaking at Nnewi South Area during Saturday’s governorship election.
She described as disturbing, a situation where party operatives were collecting voters’ cards, with INEC officials providing forms to vote which were then handed back to party agents to deposit in the ballot boxes.
“They are actually buying votes, negotiating. It is sad,” Nwobi said.
She also reported that a party agent visibly upset about the situation was shouting at an INEC official.
On security, Nwobi pointed out that only one policeman was assigned to four polling units at a local school, which she deemed insufficient.
“I have escalated the matter to our Situation Room so that more policemen can be deployed to the school,” she added.
