If I had continued with active politics since my DPN days, I’d have gone very far. But even when I wasn’t
participating as a member of any political party for years, I was always a part of the process: as a voter or on duty as
an election monitor or as a mobilizer/volunteer and as a political appointee. I understand our politics to a great
extent and I am going to say this:
Everyone buys votes. Everyone. There may be other contributory factors to eventual outcome but they all do. Those who don’t, don’t have money.
Is it right?
That’s another big kettle of fish.
There is no party that can buy all votes cast in their favor. For every elections, political office holders are tasked to
deliver their LGAs…. Set of these appointees then takes charge of their own wards and delegate the charge to party
officials and trustworthy lieutenants across polling units. Hence, there are party members and family
members/associates of political office holders who would help their person deliver on their mandates. But the
undecided voters are known. And everyone bids for their votes.
And when you hear structure, you see that delegation of task: “go and deliver”? That’s the structure. Down to your
party agent at each unit. It becomes a matter of honor to deliver your unit/ward/LGA. That’s how politicians show
capacity. And your own lieutenants at the grassroots show their own capacities by following up on supporters (not
members), knowing who could be swayed by words or cash and ensuring they deliver on their words or bargain.
They canvass votes for you. They know the voting history and pattern of electorates and will analyze it to near
perfect accuracy.
Make a mockery of this update all you want. If you want to play the game, play. If you don’t want to, give way. If you
want to change the process, please walk the talk and this talk could take years of consistent advocacy and
dismantling the entrenched culture we currently have. Not every 6 months to elections, grammar everywhere with
blame games interspersed with how we are iddddiots or not wanting what’s good for Nigeria.
What am I saying? Save your grammar… every candidate/party buys votes.
Bu kadar.
Finish.