Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has come under fire after pledging ₦1 million to every ward that delivers victory for his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in the November 8 2025 governorship election.
Speaking at a rally in Umunze, Soludo said the top three performing wards would get even higher rewards — ₦5 million, ₦3 million, and ₦2 million respectively.
He called it a “motivation” for grassroots supporters, citing a similar incentive used in a past APGA campaign.
However, opposition parties and civil society groups have condemned the move as vote-buying and a breach of the Electoral Act, warning that such promises undermine free and fair elections.
The APC South-East leadership described the pledge as “a direct attempt to monetize democracy.”
The Anambra Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, defended the governor, insisting the pledge was only meant to “reward performance, not purchase votes.”
While INEC has yet to react, analysts say the pledge blurs the line between political motivation and electoral inducement, raising fresh questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.