Soludo Defends Campaign Incentive Scheme Amid Vote-Buying Allegations

Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has defended his administration’s campaign cash reward initiative following criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups accusing him of promoting vote buying.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Awka South Local Government Area on Wednesday, Soludo clarified that the funds were intended solely for party canvassers actively engaging voters, not for the electorate.

“When we give incentives, they are meant for our party members who are working hard — going door to door to convince voters to come out and vote,” the governor explained.

He stressed that the initiative targets a small group of campaign workers and serves as a performance-based motivation, not an inducement to voters. “We are not paying anybody to vote. The 2% of our members serving as canvassers will be rewarded only if they succeed in mobilising voters. It’s not vote buying — we’re not giving anybody shishi for voting,” Soludo said.

The clarification followed a wave of online criticism and objections from opposition figures who argued that the policy could undermine electoral credibility.

Soludo, however, insisted that the incentives were a legitimate campaign strategy designed to encourage grassroots participation and strengthen his party’s outreach ahead of the upcoming elections.

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