Jake Epelle, founder of Taf Africa, has expressed deep concern that vote trading has become a disturbing norm in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television ahead of the Osun State governorship election, Epelle lamented that money now dictates political leadership across the country.
“Shamefully, vote trading has become part of the democratic process in Nigeria. We have now named it vote trading because it involves a buyer and a seller,” he said.
Epelle warned that vote buying could dominate the Osun polls, noting that “usually the highest bidder wins at each polling unit.”
He added that security operatives often watch such practices unfold without intervention, a situation he described as both “concerning and hopeless.”
His remarks highlight growing fears that financial inducements, rather than genuine democratic choice, are shaping Nigeria’s elections.