Vote Selling and Buying: A Threat to National Development in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of vote selling and buying on national development in Nigerian politics. money politics and vote buying in Nigerian politics has devastating impact on the phenomenon of the body politics. The Nigerian state often experiences governmental instability in the forms of bad policy options and implementation. The basic necessities of life such as electricity supply, water supply, employment and quality education are lacking in the Nigerian society. The recent gubernatorial election in Ekiti State has shown Nigerian are desperate in winning elections at all cost. The election was mal by massive vote selling and buying as a vote go’s for between #4,000 to #5,000 as the case may be depending on the political party offer (Eniola,2018 &and Kamarudeen & Oladime,2018).  Money itself has become a dominant factor in Nigerian politics. Money seems to have taken the centre stage in the political process in most countries and in the Nigerian politics. It is, sadly, now playing an increasingly critical role. It even appears to be so dominant in the electoral process to such an extent that the word 'money politics' with a pejorative connotation, has crept into the country's political lexicon. It is now a critical variable when assessing the level of political corruption in the country. This paper made a way forward for national development which includes. Electoral and other institutional reforms should be effective, Anti-corruption agencies need to collaborate with banks and other financial institutions to monitor the movement of cash during elections, Also essential is a culture of democratic citizenship that begins with a citizenry that is ready to insist on credible and transparent elections, Democratically elected leaders should ensure development, and improve the conditions of the ordinary people, Voters should have moral objections to vote buying, Thus, there is less need for voter education than for a system of incentives and capabilities that will allow ordinary people to resist these misguided efforts to appropriate their votes, The Government should establish a National Commission on Electoral Offences with the responsibility of investigating and charging electoral offenders to court,   Enforcement of the existing electoral regulations on party finances including campaign programmes should be implemented and Electorates  should resist any attempt by politician  to induce them of money bag at polling station during elections.

Keywords: Vote, Selling, Buying and National Development