(DDM) – High Chief Val Iwuchukwu, also known as the High Chief of Double Kingdom, has condemned the deepening culture of vote buying in Anambra State, insisting that the just-concluded election was more about money than popularity or genuine political choice.
DDM gathered that the respected political figure expressed his concerns after observing the contest, stressing that poverty had been weaponised by both state and federal authorities, leaving citizens vulnerable to financial inducements during elections.
According to Iwuchukwu, the election was not a competition between the actual candidates or their political parties but a popularity battle between financial offers of ₦10,000 and ₦5,000.
He said the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secured victory because it offered ₦10,000 to voters, a higher amount than rival parties, making the process less about democracy and more about money exchange.
“In reality, 90% of the voters preferred APGA’s ₦10,000,” Iwuchukwu explained.
“That was what happened. It was not about candidates or policies but a popularity contest between 10K and 5K.”
He noted that only the APGA candidate, who was a former President-General of Ukpor, reached out to his camp, a move he acknowledged as a bond built on personal interaction rather than political alignment.
Recounting his experience on election day, Iwuchukwu said he arrived at Nza Primary School in Ozubulu, where he met a group of women seeking direction about where to cast their votes.
He advised them to vote according to their conscience, but one openly declared she would vote APGA because they were paying ₦10,000.
The chief noted that women in his community showed more loyalty than men during the election period.
“Some women came to my house after voting,” he narrated.
“One even told me she couldn’t vote because her voter’s card was defaced, and she asked me for money, which I gave her.”
He contrasted this with men, who he said made demands for items like solar streetlights and motorcycles but did not bother reaching out to him during the voting process.
Iwuchukwu recalled that when Senator Ifeanyi Ubah passed away, political elites in Awka celebrated with mockery, dancing to Mike Ejeagha’s highlife song “Gwo Gwo Ngwo,” which, to him, symbolized the extent of disregard for values in politics today.
He admitted to voting in the election but chose not to disclose his candidate, insisting that his choice would surprise many.
For him, the bigger worry is not about who won but about the dangerous level to which vote buying has now been raised in Anambra politics.
He called on Governor Charles Soludo to test his true popularity in the forthcoming November 8, 2025 governorship election by running a clean contest without inducement.
“Let Soludo buy no vote and let’s see how it goes,” Iwuchukwu challenged.
The remarks by the High Chief of Double Kingdom reflect growing public concern about Nigeria’s electoral credibility, particularly in states like Anambra where poverty, money, and politics now appear inseparable.
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