Key Points

• Govt says Soludo’s statement was misrepresented by opposition.

• Incentives target party canvassers, not voters.

• Proposal aims to reduce voter apathy and increase turnout.

The Anambra State government says Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s campaign remarks about rewarding All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) strongholds were meant to tackle voter apathy, not to buy votes.

Govt rejects opposition claims

Opposition parties accused Soludo of trying to influence voters with financial promises.

But the governor’s press secretary, Christian Aburime, dismissed the claim and said critics twisted the statement.

He explained that Soludo’s message focused on increasing voter participation in a state where turnout has stayed low for years.

Aburime said the comment came from a desire to engage voters. “Governor Soludo spoke about encouraging our canvassers to mobilize people to vote,” he said.

“The incentives he mentioned are lawful and align with democratic principles.”

Rewards meant for canvassers

He compared the reward idea to a company recognizing top performers. According to him, only party canvassers would benefit from it, not voters.

“Members of political parties make up less than five percent of total voters,” he said.

“So the plan targets those who help mobilize others, not those casting ballots.”

He added that political parties across the world pay canvassers. “In some countries, they even receive payment before elections,” he said.

“But in our case, the reward comes after the election. That’s why it can’t count as vote buying.”

Soludo pushes for credible polls

At one of his rallies, Soludo urged supporters to vote massively for APGA. “Don’t stay home and assume we’ve already won,” he said.

“We believe in one man, one vote. We’ll work with INEC to deliver the freest and most credible election possible.”

Aburime said Soludo’s focus remains on free and fair polls. He noted that the governor’s open call for transparency shows his commitment to democracy.

“He wants voters to cast their ballots, have them counted, and see results announced openly,” he said.

Effort to fight voter apathy

Voter apathy has hurt previous elections in Anambra. The government said Soludo’s proposal would energize the grassroots and draw more citizens into the process.

“The main issue is voter apathy,” Aburime said. “Governor Soludo wants to change that pattern. If our canvassers work hard to bring voters out, they’ll get a reward after the polls. It’s a fair way to keep people engaged.”

He described the opposition’s position as baseless. “The accusations don’t hold water,” he said.

“Soludo’s plan is about rewarding effort, not manipulating votes. It’s competition-driven and completely transparent.”