In a recent video on Facebook on Tuesday, May 19th 2026, The leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has raised concerns over potential vote-buying practices in Nigeria’s upcoming elections, warning that financial influence could play a major role in campaign activities if not properly checked.…....
In a recent political message, Ayodele criticized what he described as the use of money and influence in modern campaign strategies, arguing that electoral competition is increasingly being shaped by financial power rather than ideology or performance.
“It is mainly used for campaign influence and money politics,” he said.
He further predicted that political actors would significantly increase spending as elections approach, intensifying competition for voter support across different regions of the country.
“They will spend heavily during elections,” Ayodele stated, suggesting that financial inducement could become a dominant feature of the electoral process.
However, he also noted that electoral authorities are expected to take stronger action against such practices, particularly vote buying, which has long been a concern in Nigeria’s democratic process.
“The Electoral Commission will arrest vote buyers,” he said, referring to the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission in enforcing electoral laws and ensuring compliance during voting exercises.
Ayodele also warned of the possibility of vote buying attempts at polling units, describing a scenario where voters may be pressured or influenced financially in exchange for their ballots.
“There will be ‘no money, no vote’ situations,” he added.
