The streets of Benin City buzz with whispered conversations and heated debates. The Edo State governorship election, held on September 21, 2024, has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many, with allegations of widespread vote-buying and voter apathy casting a long shadow over the democratic process. At the center of this storm stands Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party (LP) candidate, whose impassioned critique of the election has ignited a firestorm of controversy and soul-searching across the state.
As the dust settles on what many hoped would be a watershed moment for Edo State’s political landscape, Akpata’s words cut through the post-election haze like a knife. “What transpired on 21 September 2024 was not an election but a transaction,” he declared in a statement released on Monday, September 23. The lawyer-turned-politician’s assessment paints a grim picture of a democracy up for auction to the highest bidder.
Akpata’s concerns are not without merit. YIAGA Africa, a respected civil society organization and domestic observer group, corroborated his claims, reporting that the electoral process had indeed been “reduced to a commodities market – a bidding war for votes.
Perhaps equally troubling is the specter of voter apathy that loomed large over the election. Akpata pointed to one of the lowest voter turnouts in recent years as a contributing factor to what he termed “the worst-case scenario we now face.”
Local political analyst, Dr. Esosa Osagie, offered context to this troubling trend. When citizens lose faith in the electoral process, they stay home. This creates a vacuum that’s all too easily filled by those willing to buy votes,” she explained. “It’s a vicious cycle that undermines the very foundation of our democracy.”
Akpata didn’t mince words when it came to assigning blame for the alleged vote-buying spree. He accused both the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of engaging in the practice, effectively turning the election into “a transaction.”
This accusation carries significant weight, considering that the APC’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Akpata himself finished third, behind the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo.
The impact of these allegations resonates deeply with Edo State’s citizens. Mary Obaseki, a 45-year-old market vendor in Benin City, shared her frustration: “We were hopeful for change, but how can we compete with money? It feels like our voices don’t matter anymore.”
Meanwhile, James Osagie, a university student, expressed his disillusionment: “Many of my friends didn’t even bother to vote. They said it was already decided by the highest bidder. Is this what our democracy has become?”
While vote-buying took center stage in Akpata’s critique, he also highlighted other issues that plagued the election. Although the election was largely free from historical forms of election-day malpractice such as ballot box snatching and stuffing, it was nevertheless marred by voter intimidation and the falsification of results,” he stated.
These multiple fronts of electoral malpractice paint a complex picture of the challenges facing Nigerian democracy. Election security expert, Colonel (Rtd.) Adebayo Oluwole, commented on the evolving nature of electoral fraud: “We’ve made progress in curbing some of the more blatant forms of rigging, but new challenges like widespread vote-buying require innovative solutions and unwavering vigilance.
Despite the grim assessment, Akpata’s statement wasn’t without a glimmer of hope and a call to action. “The path to true democracy is often long and fraught with challenges, but it is a journey we must undertake together,” he urged. Our struggle for good governance, transparency, and accountability continues.
This sentiment resonates with civil society leaders like Amina Ibrahim of the Edo Civil Rights Coalition. Akpata’s words should serve as a wake-up call,” she asserted. “We cannot allow our democracy to be reduced to a marketplace. It’s time for citizens to reclaim their power and demand better from our political class.
As Edo State grapples with the fallout from this controversial election, the question on everyone’s lips is: Where do we go from here?
Political scientist Dr. Emmanuel Obasi offers a nuanced perspective: “This election has exposed deep-seated issues in our democratic process. However, it also presents an opportunity for reform. The outrage we’re seeing could be the catalyst for meaningful change if channeled properly.”
In conclusion, the 2024 Edo State governorship election stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of democratic processes and the ongoing challenges facing Nigeria’s political landscape. Olumide Akpata’s scathing critique has brought issues of vote-buying and voter apathy to the forefront of public discourse, challenging citizens and leaders alike to reflect on the true cost of a democracy for sale.
As Edo State moves forward, the words of Mary Obaseki, the market vendor, perhaps best encapsulate the mood of many: “We deserve better than this. Our votes should count, not be counted as cash.” The coming months and years will reveal whether this election serves as a turning point towards stronger democratic institutions or a continued slide into electoral apathy and manipulation. For now, the people of Edo State are left to ponder the true price of their democracy and what it will take to reclaim it.
