Primate Ayodele Says EFCC Can't Stop Vote Buying Due to Widespread Poverty
What happened: Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cannot stop vote buying in Nigeria's 2027 election because widespread poverty makes politicians able to buy votes, and arresting everyone involved would mean detaining about 98% of voters and candidates.
Why it matters: Vote buying undermines the credibility of elections, perpetuates poor governance, and keeps many Nigerians trapped in a cycle where their votes are effectively bought rather than earned. If the practice continues, ordinary citizens' voices remain muted, and development suffers because leaders are chosen through cash handouts, not merit.
What you should know or do: The cleric argues that lasting change requires broad economic improvement so citizens can afford basic needs without selling their votes. Citizens can support policies that tackle poverty, demand transparent campaign financing, and stay vigilant against vote-buying tactics during elections.
He emphasized that only when Nigerians can afford basic necessities such as food will politicians lose the ability to buy votes with money.