Civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, has raised concerns over widespread vote-buying in the just-concluded Anambra governorship election.

In its post-election observations released on Sunday, the group reported that several political actors allegedly influenced voters with cash, food items, and material gifts at polling centers. According to Yiaga Africa, this practice undermined the credibility of the process and weakened voters’ trust in democratic institutions.

The organisation noted that its observers stationed across the state witnessed several cases where voters were approached before casting their ballots. Yiaga Africa stressed that vote-buying remains one of the biggest threats to Nigeria’s electoral system and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.

It urged the government, anti-corruption agencies, and civil society groups to intensify voter education, enforce election laws, and ensure accountability for electoral offenses. Yiaga Africa added that credible elections are crucial for strengthening democracy and ensuring leaders are chosen based on merit, not financial inducement.