Following the wide condemnation that characterized vote-buying across the country, several political parties including the ruling All Progressive Party (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have devised new means of buying votes without raising the dust.
Although leaders of the parties have denied their involvement in the unwholesome practice, it was gathered that the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party have concluded plans to pay between N2,000 and N10,000 per vote.
The parties had reportedly distributed money earlier within the week to the wards and polling units to avoid being stopped by security agencies on Saturday when the actual election holds, Truthlive.net learnt.
According to a source privy to the ruling APC, he said, “Osun is a state we cannot lose, so we have to do what is necessary. It will be an embarrassment if we lose the election. APC is Osun and Osun is APC. So, we have made provision for voters to be rewarded for voting for us.”
Reminded that the security agencies and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were on the lookout for such illegal transactions, he said, “We took care of that already, since early in the week.”
On how the money would be disbursed, to avoid EFCC’s prying eyes and that of other security agents, those in charge of disbursing the funds are expected to stay in nearby residential buildings.
“However, other foot soldiers, who would pose as normal voters, would be around the polling units, especially the voting cubicle, to identify those who vote for their respective parties. The foot soldiers would then give signal to one another and would notify the paymaster for the voter to be paid.”
Similarly, it was learnt that PDP planned to give N2,000 to any willing voter in neutral and friendly areas while the amount to be shared to each voter in hostile and very competitive areas could be as much as N5,000, a report by Punch revealed.
The “friendly” areas for the PDP are Ede North, Ede South, Oriade, Obokun, Boluwaduro and Orolu Local Government Areas
According to a PDP chieftain in the state who pleaded anonymity, the party had no choice but to make such provisions so it wouldn’t be outplayed by the APC.
“You know the APC is in power at the centre and in the state and the party has more governors than the PDP, so they naturally would have more funds from donations. So, we can’t go to bed as if they won’t induce voters.”
“We have mobilised since early in the week so the security agencies, who may be loyal to the APC, don’t humiliate us,” another source disclosed.
Similarly, the APC, it was learnt, may spend up to N10,000 per vote and had voted about N2m per polling unit. A chieftain of the party, who didn’t want his name mentioned, said the election would be keenly contested and that it would be insulting for the party to lose the election
Smaller parties are also said not to be left out of the parties as Accord Party and Labour Party reportedly planning to ‘reward’ voters.