Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the credible and transparent conduct of the just-concluded Anambra Governorship Election, describing it as “a remarkable improvement from previous polls.”
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, the Labour Party (LP) senator lauded INEC’s efficient logistics and the flawless performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), noting that accreditation and voting were completed in under three minutes across most polling units.
“For the first time, I did not receive any distress calls about malfunctioning BVAS or irregularities. The process was smooth, transparent, and credible. I score INEC high for this improvement,” Umeh said.
The former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) also hailed the real-time transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, describing it as “unprecedented transparency.”
“By midnight, over 97 percent of polling unit results had been uploaded. This shows INEC’s genuine commitment to credible elections,” he noted.
However, Senator Umeh expressed deep concern over reports of vote buying, described the trend as a national embarrassment that threatens the foundation of democracy.
“I did not personally witness vote buying, but I cannot dismiss the reports. Some people were desperate to secure votes. Vote buying is a shameful practice a sign of poverty and moral decay,” he lamented.
He frowned at the alleged sale of votes for between ₦10,000 and ₦15,000, warned that such behaviour undermined citizens’ right to demand accountability.
“₦15,000 cannot sustain a family for one day. Selling your vote means you’ve sold your right to complain about bad governance for four years. It’s a dangerous culture that must be stopped,” he warned.
Umeh, who acknowledged APGA’s long-standing dominance and political structure in the state, said he was not surprised at the outcome of the election. He further emphasized the importance of zoning in promoting equity and political stability in Anambra.
He urged politicians to focus on performance and service delivery instead of using money to manipulate voters.
“Those desperate to buy votes should understand that good governance sells better than money. When leaders perform, people naturally support them,” Umeh added.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the senator tasked the new INEC Chairman, Professor Abubakar Amupitan, with strengthening institutional integrity and resisting political interference.
“Professor Amupitan must ensure INEC stands firm against fraudulent court orders and adheres strictly to Supreme Court decisions. The commission must not allow politicians to manipulate it through legal loopholes,” he said.
He concluded by urging Nigerian youths to embrace integrity and patriotism in politics, stressing that genuine leadership is anchored on performance and service.
“If you perform well in governance, you won’t need to bribe anyone to win elections. Nigerians appreciate good leadership when they see it,” Umeh affirmed.
