Paying party agents at polling units not vote-buying – NNPP Spokesman
A spokesman of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, said paying party agents on election duty is not voter -buying.
Johnson stated this while speaking on Channels Television’s live programme, The 2023 Verdict, monitored by our correspondent.
The NNPP chieftain noted that part of the money realised from the purchase of forms “will be used on logistics on election days either to get your people to the collation centre or what have you, to operate situation room, wifi, etc.”
“Paying agents at the polling units is almost normal now, in any country. For instance, in the United States, they pay their canvassers.”
The NNPP spokesperson said though there are party loyalists who would choose to do the job without any cash incentive, the situation in the country has “impoverished” the people in the last eight years that party agents won’t mind a “stipend” for being the eyes of the party at polling units.
He said, “You have someone sitting there for God knows how many hours and you expect that person to come out with a result sheet, you expect that person to object to anything funny at the polling units, so, most times, you do pay them.
“There are people who will tell you I’m a member of this party, I don’t want it. But unfortunately for us, after the seven or eight years now, Nigerians are more impoverished than ever.
“So, you’ll find people who say to you that: ‘Yes, I’m a member of this party but if I can get a stipend for sitting down in one place for seven hours and being your eyes, so be it’. That’s different from inducing me to vote for you. Totally different.”
John said Nigerians should expect some major announcements by heavyweights endorsing Kwankwaso a few days before the elections.
Meanwhile, Johnson predicted a run-off in the February 25 presidential poll, saying the NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso will use his “advantage” in the 19 northern states and five southern states to edge out his co-contestants.
