Osun election: Vote trading now part of Nigeria’s democratic process — Epelle

Founder of Taf Africa, Jake Epelle, has lamented that vote trading has now become a norm in the democratic process in Nigeria.

Speaking in an interview on Arise Television late Friday, Epelle said money had become a determining factor for who leads Nigeria in any capacity, describing it as very shameful.

He was speaking ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday (today).

He said, “Shamefully vote trading has become part of the democratic process in Nigeria. We have now named it vote trading because it involves a buyer and a seller.

“Money has become a determining factor for who leads us, that is very shameful. I won’t be surprised if vote buying happens tomorrow and becomes the order of the day. Usually the highest bidder wins at each polling unit.

“I won’t be surprised if it is what will happen in Osun State and becomes the order of the day. I just hope that it will not happen.

“What is concerning and hopeless to me is that security operatives are watching these individuals, sometimes looking the other way, and not doing anything.”