People like to sit on their high horses and act as if it’s just the poor & uneducated who are paid for their votes.
Look at the appointments, the CBN-type jobs, the party tickets & the kings. Look at those who get the inflated contracts
Look at yourselves.
Today, you’re tweeting about how politicians shamelessly pay for votes but when you meet the same politicians in person, you’re fighting for selfies instead of asking them to explain themselves.
The middlemen who will organise printing of inauguration brochures & decorate the venue are already lobbying & will make a killing
People near and far will be lobbying for appointments. Everyone has already forgotten the voter in Ward whatever.
Just don’t steal to pay for votes
I don’t support cash-for-votes but the solution is not to simply cut off poor people from benefiting.
Perhaps start at the top. If poorer families can see that the rich and connected aren’t milking govt, they might reconsider. Maybe.
Also, fight to raise people out of poverty
Also, Nigerians need to fight for reforms in party and campaign finance.
This is why I think parties like KOWA need to stop complaining on Twitter, de-register and form CSOs to push for new regulations. No point contesting till then.
In 2014, we entered my Ekiti village mins after 6PM on Friday & soldiers held our car until Saturday. No movement was allowed
In the middle of the night, I heard people knocking on doors sharing cash. Many middlemen stole candidates' money. Perhaps why a new strategy was devised
In 2012, I was an independent observer in Edo State. Observers can only document, can''t interfere.
I saw a man sit in a corner of the polling unit and give cash to people who told him they voted for his party.
It's widespread but we're going to need to fight to change things
Years ago, a senior INEC officer told me (not eavesdropping) staff knew a certain godfather did not support the party's candidate because the godfather hadn't sent INEC his usual gift of money.
All govt officials from PAs to presidents ought to be barred from taking any gifts.
I didn't plan to say much. Maybe I'm reacting because you people are always using Ekiti people for jokes & proverbs
I want to encourage everyone to ask questions. ALWAYS.
Don't be dazzled by cool threads seasoned with untruths. Read, ask the elders & write your own threads
This happened today👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾
The U.K. Electoral Commission “has found that Vote Leave exceeded its legal spending limit.
We have fined Vote Leave and Darren Grimes and made referrals to the police...”
Useful information from Mark here 👇🏾
Will any of the smaller parties take advantage of Nigeria’s electoral laws? Will any parties use #EkitiDecides as an opportunity to force campaign finance reforms?
#SocialMediaInNigeria
Weeks ago, I DMed @Rosanwo & @FamuyideOlawale about a BRAND NEW TV show which bought/borrowed an existing Twitter account with 80,000+ followers and thousands of 2015 pro-Goodluck/PDP & anti-Buhari/APC tweets, RTs