Former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa, has claimed that politicians with the right amount of money can buy their way to winning elections in Nigeria. He stated that the country is in a situation where wealthy politicians can influence the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, and the army to secure electoral victories.
Udenwa made these remarks while speaking on Edmund Obilo’s State Affairs podcast. He lamented that Nigerians no longer question the character, antecedents, and backgrounds of politicians who seek their support.
“Unfortunately, our society has grown to such a level where if you say vote for me, I am no longer asking what you can do. What are your antecedents? What type of character do you have? We don’t ask such questions again. And, of course, even if I don’t vote for you, you can buy your way through if you have the right amount of money,” Udenwa said.
When asked if politicians could buy INEC, the police, the army, and the voters, he replied, “You can buy everybody.” He emphasized that elections in Nigeria have become transactional, adding that the practice must be curbed for the emergence of the right leaders.
Udenwa also addressed the ongoing crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), blaming the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for fueling internal divisions within the opposition party.
Despite acknowledging PDP’s internal challenges, he maintained that external forces have contributed significantly to the party’s crisis.
“There are external hands trying to destroy the PDP through internal sources. We are still battling the problem, and I believe PDP will not be destroyed,” Udenwa said. He asserted that the PDP is aware of the APC’s involvement in its internal disputes but refused to disclose the names of those allegedly used to destabilize the party.
Source: Linda Ikeji Blog