A teenager has alleged that an agent of the All Progressives Congress (APC) promised him money after casting his vote, amid growing claims that underage voters were mobilised during a recent election exercise.
The allegation surfaced in a viral video circulating on social media, where the young boy claimed he was encouraged to participate in the election despite being below the legally approved voting age. According to the teenager, he was assured of financial compensation after voting.
“I was told that after voting, I would be given money,” the boy reportedly said while speaking to individuals questioning him about his participation in the election.
The development has sparked concerns among election observers and civil society groups, who have repeatedly warned against voter inducement and the involvement of underage persons in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Several political stakeholders have called for an investigation into the claims, arguing that any attempt to influence voters with financial rewards undermines the credibility of democratic elections. They also stressed that allowing underage individuals to vote violates provisions of the Electoral Act and weakens public confidence in the electoral system.
The APC has not officially responded to the specific allegation at the time of filing this report. However, party officials in previous elections have consistently denied accusations of voter inducement and electoral malpractice whenever such claims emerged.
Election monitoring groups have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies to investigate the incident and determine the authenticity of the teenager’s statement. They noted that verifying the claims is essential to maintaining transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
