Anambra Guber: Rights Activist Blasts Soludo For Promising Cash Rewards For Votes

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, has criticised Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo for promising cash rewards to communities that deliver the highest votes for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the coming November 8 governorship election.

Governor Soludo had made the promise during an APGA campaign rally in Anambra East Local Government Area, where he told supporters that wards and local governments that give the party the highest number of votes would receive financial rewards.

His comment has caused widespread outrage, with many civil society groups, opposition parties, and election observers accusing him of trying to influence voters with money. They said the statement goes against the principles of free and fair elections.

Reacting to the development in an interview with ARISE News on Tuesday, Jake Epelle, a human rights activist, described Soludo’s statement as “political rascality” and warned that such behaviour sets a bad example for other politicians.

“Unfortunately, that’s very unfortunate. I would describe that, and everybody knows me; I speak my mind. It’s actually political rascality. That’s the only way I can describe it. Soludo should have known better.

“That’s not the kind of information you put out there for your people. It’s nothing but an inducement to wear the cloak of bait with Naira. It shouldn’t have happened,” Epelle said.

Epelle, whose organisation, TAF Africa, works to promote an inclusive society that embraces and empowers persons with disabilities, ensuring their participation in socio-political and economic activities in Africa, said leaders should focus on ideas, development, and good governance instead of using money to win support.

He urged politicians to raise the standard of political campaigns and act responsibly, saying Nigeria’s democracy can only grow when leaders show integrity and play by the rules.