Nigerian businessman and social commentator Isaac Fayose has stirred reactions online after making remarks about voting patterns among different ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Speaking in a recent statement, Fayose claimed that Igbo people are less likely to sell their votes during elections compared to voters in some other regions of the country.
According to him, “An Igbo man can do business and make deals, but you will hardly see an Igbo man sell his vote for ₦15,000.” He further alleged that vote-buying is more prevalent in parts of South-West Nigeria, adding that this contributed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu losing Lagos during the 2023 presidential election.
Fayose concluded his remarks by expressing pride in his Igbo heritage, stating that he sees “more reasons every day” to be proud of being Igbo.
The comments have generated mixed reactions on social media, with some users supporting his views while others criticized the statement as a broad generalization. There is no official data proving that vote-selling is exclusive to any particular ethnic group or region, as electoral malpractice has been reported across different parts of Nigeria.
Political analysts continue to stress the need for voter education and electoral reforms to curb vote-buying and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process.