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Embarks on Advocacy Ahead of November Election
- Safiu Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged prospective voters ahead of the 2025 Anambra State Governorship election to shun vote buying.
NPO Reported that the state is set to go to poll on Saturday, 8th of November as curtain closes on the four years tenure of governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Ahead of the poll, registered political parties have commenced campaign across the state.
With reports and speculations of planned attempt by some of the parties to engage in vote buying, INEC on Thursday kicked of its advocacy against the electoral malpractice.
The commission in a post on its X handle charged the electorate reject what it labelled as stomach infrastructure.
It urged the voters to rather demand real development in the state than selling their vote or exchange it for palliatives.
“Reject stomach infrastructure. Demand real development. Say NO to vote buying.” INEC wrote.
In the context of Nigerian Politics, the word “stomach infrastructure” implies situation where political candidate seeks electorates’ support by offering them food palliative in exchange for their votes.
According to the Oxford Dictionary on African Politics, the word was coined by a Nigerian politician during the 2015 elections.
He promised people rice and chicken over development and won that election.
Another report however traced the origin of the word back to the 2014 gubernatorial election poll in Ekiti State, where the incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi lost the elections by a wide margin.
Fayemi had in the aftermath of the electric accused the governor-elect Ayodele Fayose of dwelling mostly on stomach infrastructure instead of focusing on infrastructural development and other people-oriented programs.
INEC, in a flyer attached to the post, declared that Anambra is not for sale.
It urged the electorates to protect the state’s future with their votes.
INEC, in a separate post, also seek active participation of women in the election.
The commission charged them to make their votes count.
“Anambra women, the future of your state is in your hands. This is your opportunity to shape the governance and development of Anambra State.
“Your participation in the upcoming governorship election is crucial. Make your vote count!” The post read.