Kano Records Mass Vote Buying in 2023 Governorship Election.
By Hannatu Suleiman Abba
AREWA AGENDA – The March 18 governorship election in Kano State experienced a wobble in vote buying across 44 local government areas in the state at the polling units.
Vote buying was recorded by different political parties in the areas of Kano Municipal, Gezawa, Nassarawa, Tarauni, Fagge, Kabo, Rano, Bunkure, Dambatta, Minjibir, Kura, Kiru, Gwale, Dala, Bebeji as well as other places in different LGAs according to an eye-witness.
The majority of the people who are in the act of vote buying are women seen collecting wrappers, foodstuffs, detergents, sachet water, Awara and others items to cast their votes.
A voter at Kumbotso LGAs, Sheka Barde Polling Unit, Suraya Jafaar said, “the turnout was very low at the beginning of the election but immediately when the agents of different parties advertised wrappers and other items to women; they gathered to vote the agents’ candidates. During the presidential elections, no vote buying at the polling units because of the cashless policy” she added.
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Jalla Radio Reporter in Kano state Musa Sani Aliyu confirmed that there is vote buying in Tarauni LGA, Gwale LGA, and Kano Municipal particularly in Tudun Nufawa, Sabuwar Kofa, Kabara, Sheshe, Shahuci among others. Women were at the frontline to accept the incentive for vote buying where I participated in election coverage in the state.
In Kawo, Gama, Sauna, Jigirya, Gawuna, Tudunwada, Badawa, Giginyu wards in Nasarawa LGA, women were collecting wrappers or 3 Noodles after voting but must be scrutinized and confirmed that the electorate voted for the vote buyers interest.
Ismai’l Kanye at Kabo LGAs added that women were been convinced to vote with incentive materials like wrappers, detergent, and food items while the men are giving textile materials.
On his part, a humanitarian activist in Kano State Musa Abdullahi Sufi said, I went to at least 10 polling units in 5 LGAs in Kano Municipal, Gezawa, Nassarawa, Tarauni, and Fagge, the vote buying is much. The hot steps in which the political parties are so desperate to win the election make the citizens accept what is presented.
Although, there are security agencies to calm violence which are sufficient there is a need for addition in other places.
Member at Kano Civil Society Forum Comrade Ibrahim Garba Maryam said the government is not serious to tackle vote buying before the election in the state because many reports before the eve of the Elections show how parties enjoyed vote buying door to door.
“Presently, I am at Kawaji ward monitoring the Election processes, I called the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to report the incident at the ward for about 4 times, but there is no response.” IG Maryam said
