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Soludo Under Fire Over N1m-Per-Ward Election Promise
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has come under intense criticism following his announcement that each ward that secures victory for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the forthcoming November 8 governorship election would receive ₦1 million as a reward.
The governor made the statement during a campaign rally in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, describing the promise as a “motivational incentive” for his party supporters to deliver victory at the polls.
However, the remark has drawn widespread backlash from opposition parties, civil society organisations, and election observers, who described it as an open endorsement of vote-buying.
ALSO READS: HURIWA Urges Soludo to Focus on Protecting, Not Eliminating Citizens
Opposition Parties React
The All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned the governor’s statement, accusing him of attempting to manipulate the electoral process through financial inducement.
APC’s South-East National Vice Chairman, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, said Soludo’s comment violated the Electoral Act and the spirit of fair competition.
“Governor Soludo’s promise is a clear case of vote-buying, no matter how he tries to disguise it. We will petition INEC and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate this act,” Arodiogbu stated.
Similarly, the Labour Party (LP) expressed concern over what it called the “monetisation of democracy,” arguing that the move could erode public confidence in the electoral process.
LP’s spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, said, “This is not motivation; it is manipulation. Leaders should inspire voters with good governance, not money.”
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also joined the outcry, describing Soludo’s pledge as “an unacceptable attempt to commercialise electoral loyalty.”
Civil Groups, Election Monitors Condemn Move
Reacting to the controversy, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the governor’s statement.
CACOL’s Executive Director, Debo Adeniran, said the promise was “tantamount to vote-buying,” and warned that such practices could damage Nigeria’s democracy.
Election observer group YIAGA Africa also criticised the offer, noting that incentives tied to electoral performance constitute indirect vote-buying.
“Vote-buying is not only the exchange of cash at polling units. Any financial reward meant to influence electoral behaviour falls under that category,” said YIAGA’s Media Officer, Jennifer Dafwat.
Government Defends Soludo
In response to the criticisms, the Anambra State government dismissed the allegations as “misplaced and politically motivated.”
Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, defended the governor, insisting that the ₦1 million promise was a legitimate way to encourage party performance at the grassroots.
“Governor Soludo was simply motivating party members who work hard to ensure APGA’s success. It’s not vote-buying but recognition of effort,” Mefor said.
He added that the opposition was only “grasping for attention” ahead of the polls.
INEC Urged to Act
Several political observers have urged INEC to take a clear stance on the matter to discourage similar practices by other politicians.
Former Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Chairman, Yabagi Sani, warned that such comments, if left unchecked, could embolden candidates to openly trade money for votes.
“This is a dangerous precedent. Election motivation must not cross into illegality,” he said.
Public Reactions Mixed
On the streets of Awka, Nnewi, and Onitsha, opinions remain divided. While some residents see the governor’s offer as a harmless reward for party loyalty, others believe it undermines democracy.
A resident, Mrs. Ifeoma Okeke said “If a governor wants to appreciate party members, it should not be during an election season. This looks like buying votes.”
Another voter, Chinedu Nwosu, disagreed, saying,
“Every political party rewards its people differently. As long as the money isn’t given directly to voters, it’s not vote-buying.”
As Election Day Approaches
With the November 8 Anambra governorship election fast approaching, Soludo’s ₦1 million-per-ward comment has become one of the most talked-about political topics in the state.
Whether seen as motivation or manipulation, the promise has once again highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to draw the line between party mobilisation and electoral inducement.
Leading economists, financial experts and industry stakeholders have described the Dangote Group’s investments as major drivers of industrialisation and economic transformation across Nigeria and Africa.
The experts cited the Group’s impact on job creation, import substitution, foreign exchange conservation and economic competitiveness.
They voiced their thoughts at the Lagos Economic Summit themed “The Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity,” where they urged governments to implement policies that strengthen local industries and accelerate economic diversification.
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Samaila Zubairu, commended the Dangote Group’s sustained investments across Africa, describing them as critical to unlocking the continent’s economic potential.
He noted that while recent economic reforms have improved foreign exchange stability, strengthened reserves and eased inflationary pressures, the focus must now shift to growth in industry, productivity and employment.
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Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Muda Yusuf, said industrialisation remains the most effective path to sustainable economic development.
He called for better alignment of trade and industrial policies, stressing that local manufacturers require strategic support to compete effectively and drive broader economic benefits.
Founder and CEO of Nairametrics, Ugodre Obi-Chukwu, said Africa’s growing population presents a significant industrial opportunity, noting that investments such as the Dangote Refinery are helping to retain capital within the continent while strengthening local production capacity.
In his keynote address, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said Nigeria is gradually transitioning from a consumption-led economy to one driven by investment and production.
He added that sustained investments in productive sectors will continue to stimulate growth, create jobs and improve living standards.
Participants at the summit also advocated stronger credit infrastructure, improved national identification systems and increased investment in skills development to enhance the productivity and global competitiveness of Africa’s growing youth population.
Photo Caption: From Left – Chief Economist, Dangote Industries Limited, Dr. Hassan Mahmud; Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru; Chairman of Occasion/Special Guest of Honour, Samaila Zubairu; Key Note Speaker Session 1, Bismarck Rewane; during the Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity, Sponsored by Dangote Industry Limited in Lagos on Thursday 3, September 2026.
Social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has released what he described as his first piece of evidence after the Nigeria Police Force challenged him to substantiate his allegations that some police officers allegedly collaborate with kidnappers.
VDM released a video on his Instagram handle on Thursday, August 27, 2026, shortly after the police invited him to provide evidence supporting the claims he made at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt.
SEE MORE: ‘Provide Evidence’ — Police React to VDM’s Explosive Kidnap Allegation
The activist captioned the video: “My evidence number 1.”
Recalled that VDM, who was a panellist at the NBA conference on Tuesday, had alleged that some police officers manning checkpoints along major highways provide kidnappers and bandits with information about travellers.
According to him, the officers allegedly relay details about the identities and movements of travellers to criminal groups, thereby facilitating abductions for ransom.
The allegation triggered a response from the Nigeria Police Force, which denied the claim and challenged VDM to substantiate his allegations.
The police invitation came as the force sought evidence to support the serious claims made by the social media critic.
In response, VDM released the video, describing it as his “evidence number 1”, signalling that he may provide further material to support his allegations.
The development has continued to attract attention, with the controversy placing renewed focus on allegations of possible collaboration between security personnel and criminal groups involved in kidnapping and banditry.
A former Permanent Secretary of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Goke Adeboroye, has questioned how an alleged fake presidential agency was able to gain access to government facilities, budgetary provisions and office space without being detected.
Adeboroye spoke on Channels Television’s Inside Sources following the discovery of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
SEE MORE: $1m Extortion Scheme: Fake EFCC Officials Arrested In Plot Against Former NPA MD
The ICPC had said the purported agency had no legal basis and operated with forged appointment letters and other official documents.
The commission also said its alleged Director-General, Adeniyi Matthew, was never appointed by the Federal Government.
The anti-corruption agency further disclosed that its investigation into the PFIPC led to the discovery of the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, which it alleged was operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation without proper authorisation.
Reacting to the development, Adeboroye described the situation as a major failure of the government’s bureaucratic system.
“The exposure of that fake presidential agency is a major lapse to say that somebody can actually come into the system, get in on the budget, get offices, and all of that,” he said.
The former permanent secretary identified weaknesses in the bureaucratic structures supporting key offices in the Presidency, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service.
According to him, the bureaucracy in these offices should be strong enough to support the President’s policies while also ensuring that fraudulent or unlawful directives do not gain effect.
“The bureaucracy in those offices are not strong enough to be able to help the President drive the vision at the speed and with the efficiency that he wants,” Adeboroye said.
He also stressed the importance of having professional and experienced civil servants who can scrutinise directives issued by political office holders.
Adeboroye said civil servants should be able to recognise suspicious communications purportedly coming from the Presidency because they are familiar with the official channels through which presidential approvals are transmitted.
“Whether the person brings fake or whatever, you as the civil servant should be trained to be able to detect what should be a genuine communication from the State House. You work in that system,” he said.
He explained that presidential approvals usually pass through established channels involving senior government officials.
“When the President approves anything, he always minutes to about three people. He goes to the Chief of Staff, he goes to SGF, and if he has something to do with civil service, the Head of Service will have it.”
Adeboroye recalled an incident from his time as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior involving a former governor who claimed to have presidential approval for a diplomatic passport.
He said the then Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Ude, cross-checked the purported approval before taking action and subsequently sought clarification on whether the former governor, who was no longer in office, should receive the diplomatic passport.
“That’s somebody using the experience of the system to ensure that you are not outplayed,” he said.
The former permanent secretary said similar verification could have been carried out in the alleged fake agency case through a simple phone call to the relevant government offices.
“So we would have expected that on a simple phone call, when I was working in the office of Ekaite, Secretary of Government, I could pick a phone, call any minister, call this, it’s just a phone call from the office of whoever to say, Chief of Staff, is this true? And that would have actually corrected it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office has continued.
The chairman of the project office, Musa Aliyu, had alleged that the office was allocated space within the OSGF premises without presidential authorisation.
However, the National Coordinator and Executive Director of the project office, George Nwabueze, denied the allegation, insisting that the office is a project office under the OSGF and has existed for 16 years.
Nwabueze also produced an appointment letter purportedly issued by the OSGF, conveying approval of his appointment as National Coordinator/Executive Director of the Made in Nigeria Project Office.
The conflicting claims have continued to raise questions about the authorisation and status of the project office and the alleged involvement of public officials in its operations.
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