NBS reveals rampant vote buying cases in 2023 elections

Nigeria’s fight against electoral corruption is facing a worrying trend, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Their latest report, “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and trends in the third survey on corruption experienced by the population,” reveals an increase in vote buying during the 2023 general elections.

The survey found that 22% of voters faced attempts to influence their vote through financial or material inducements. This is an alarming increase of 5% compared to the 17% reported in the 2019 election.

Describing it as another form of corruption, the NBS said vote buying, which is the act of offering money, goods or other favors in exchange for a voter’s vote in an election, the NBS said, “This represents an increase in both types of vote buying compared to 2019 when personal offers of money were reported by 17 percent and personal offers of other favors were reported by four percent of citizens.

“Additionally, in 2023, 10 percent of respondents reported that they were not personally offered money or other favors in exchange for their vote, but were instead approached by another household member, compared to 5 percent in 2019.”

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Despite the alarming scale of the problem, the report offers a glimmer of hope. NBS data shows that the vast majority of voters (55%) remain unaffected by these offers. However, with 40% admitting to voting based on financial or material incentives, the report underscores the ongoing fragility of Nigeria’s electoral process.

It said, “More than half (55 percent) of citizens who were personally offered money or other favors in exchange for their vote in the 2023 general election reported that the offer did not influence their vote choice, while 40 percent of those citizens said they voted for the person or political party that offered them money or favors precisely because of the offer.

“Between 2019 and 2023, the proportion of Nigerian citizens who were personally offered a bribe in exchange for votes increased similarly across gender, urban and rural areas, and age groups,” the agency said.

The rise in vote buying requires a multi-pronged approach. Strengthening law enforcement efforts, voter education campaigns, and addressing the underlying socioeconomic factors that make voters vulnerable to such practices are critical elements in ensuring the integrity of future elections.

NBS post exposes rampant vote buying practices in 2023 elections first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.