A 21-year-old first-time voter, Chinyere Aniwetalu, on Saturday confessed that she was paid to vote during the Anambra Governorship Election at Nteje Ward 1, Amuda Village Square Polling Unit 12.
Chinyere, who spoke in Igbo language, confirmed receiving money but refused to disclose the amount or the identity of those who paid her.
“I was paid to vote,” she said with a smile, adding that she was, however, happy to finally exercise her civic right after years of waiting to reach voting age.
She explained that she could not participate in the 2023 general elections because she did not have a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) at the time.
“I just got my PVC this year, and I’m happy to use it today,” she noted.
At the polling unit, most voting activities had been concluded by midday, with several voters seen hanging around as officials prepared for the sorting and counting of ballots.
INEC officials at the centre told journalists that the voting commenced early, around 8:00 a.m., and had been smooth so far, though they were still expecting a few more voters to turn up before the close of polls.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about vote-buying and voter inducement, which have continued to mar Nigeria’s electoral process despite sustained campaigns by authorities and civil society groups against the practice.