Anambra Election: N500, Snacks, Enough To Buy Votes In Nigeria – Mahdi Shehu

Public affairs analyst Mahdi Shehu has condemned the conduct of the Anambra weekend elections, stating that the widespread vote-buying witnessed highlights the deep poverty and ignorance still affecting Nigerians.

In a post shared on X on Sunday, Shehu lamented that some voters were allegedly influenced with just N500 and snacks like Gala during the polls.

“When Gala, junk snacks, and N500 are enough to sway votes, as it happened over the weekend in Anambra State, then forget democracy in Nigeria and consign it to the dustbin where it really belongs,” he wrote.

He said the development reflected the country’s worsening economic hardship.

He noted that hunger and deprivation have pushed many citizens to trade their votes for food and small cash.

“That 139 million Nigerians are afflicted by extreme hunger, starvation, and penury has been confirmed by the downtrodden voters in Anambra. It also applies to all regions with varying degrees. Shame of a nation,” Shehu added.

The post was accompanied by a video showing people distributing snacks and money to voters, mostly women.