By Orkula Shaagee
A former Governor of Imo State Achike Udenwa said any politician with the right amount of money can buy his/her way to winning elections in Nigeria.
Udenwa said Nigeria is in a situation where rich politicians can buy the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, and the army to win elections.
The ex-governor said this while featuring on Edmund Obilo’s State Affairs show, a political podcast.
Vanguard quoted Udenwa as saying that Nigerians no longer question the character, antecedents and backgrounds of politicians who come to them to seek their support
“Unfortunately, our society has grown to such a level where if you say vote for me, I am no longer asking what you can do? What are your antecedents? What type of character do you have? We don’t ask such questions again. And, of course, even if I don’t vote for you, you can buy your way through if you have the right amount of money,” Udenwa said.
When asked if politicians could buy the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, the army, and the voters, he replied, “You can buy everybody.”
He affirmed that elections in Nigeria are about buying, adding that the practice must be curbed for the correct leaders to emerge.
On the unresolved crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Udenwa, who is a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, blamed the crisis on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Despite acknowledging the PDP’s internal problems, the ex-governor maintained that external hands contributed to the party’s crisis.