Dare Babalola
Political commentator Mahdi Shehu has accused officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of encouraging vote-buying.
Using the recent bye-elections in Kano State as his benchmark, the commentator claimed that the democratic process is being undermined by cash inducements and systemic failures.
Sharing a video on X showing a politician distributing money, Shehu described the elections as a clear reflection of the state of democracy in Nigeria.
“Democracy is simply a joke in Nigeria where everybody is living in denial until suddenly that day comes,” he said.
He added that security agencies watched politicians openly buy votes and they did not attempt to stop them.
He said, “The politicians are unapologetic in inducing the electorate with money, and the police are often willing to facilitate this and support them. Voters and thugs are eager for the politicians’ one-off ‘cash gifts,’ while election officials will always look the other way for a price.
“INEC does not have the courage to enforce the law against monetary and material inducement because even INEC itself is unteachable. Election tribunals and courts are unlikely to admit such evidence as credible, since some of their members are part of the democratic failures. Yet local and foreign election observers will validate the results regardless.”
