Tension flared on Saturday at Polling Unit 035 in Nyanya, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), following allegations of vote-buying leveled against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The accusations sparked a brief disruption at the polling centre, prompting security operatives to intervene and restore order.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were observed reinforcing security at the polling unit after opposition party agents protested what they described as attempts to induce voters with cash.
An opposition agent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that suspected APC intermediaries approached voters waiting in line with monetary offers.
“Some people we suspect to be APC intermediaries came to speak with voters. They were giving ₦1,000, but we openly rejected and spoke against it. That was why the situation became unruly for a while, but calm was restored after they left,” the agent claimed.
An ADC agent also faulted the response of security personnel at the scene, alleging inaction.
“They are sharing ₦1,000 per voter and security personnel are watching. How can such a thing be allowed? We will not tolerate it,” the agent alleged.
The confrontation led to heated exchanges among voters aligned with different political parties and temporarily disrupted the orderly queue at the polling unit.
At one point, a voter reportedly appealed to the protesting agents, cautioning that continued unrest could result in the cancellation of results at the polling unit.
Calm was eventually restored, and voting resumed under heightened security monitoring.
Commercial activities around the area were largely suspended due to the elections, with most businesses closed except for essential services, including the Nyanya General Hospital.
Allegations of vote-buying have remained a recurring concern in Nigerian elections, drawing criticism from electoral observers, civil society organisations, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Observers have consistently warned that the practice undermines the integrity of elections by influencing voters through financial inducements.
Vote-buying typically involves the distribution of cash, food items, or other material benefits either directly at polling units or through intermediaries stationed nearby.
Despite provisions in the Electoral Act criminalising voter inducement and prescribing penalties, enforcement has continued to pose a challenge. Analysts have linked the persistence of the practice to poverty, unemployment, and weak monitoring mechanisms.
In recent years, election monitoring groups have also reported more discreet methods of inducement, including coded transactions, electronic transfers, and the deployment of agents near polling centres.