By John Odhe, YENAGOA
As the 2027 general election is drawing closer by every single day that passes by, there are emergency revelations that would shape outcome of the polls.
A check by our correspondent in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, indicates that the electorate are introducing a paradigm shift from the usual to a new trend that may be unpalatable for politicians who used to buy the conscience of voters either in cash or in kind.
This time, the prospective voters seem to have learnt a lesson and have decided to put their destiny in their own hands by making informed decisions ahead of the elections.
Nigerians will trip to the polls on January 16, 2027 to elect a new president alongside, Senators and House of Representatives members.
Vote buying has been the order of the day during Nigeria’s electioneering processes in recent times particularly since the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) into the electoral conduct.
When TNN sampled opinions of expected voters concerning the troubling issue of transactional election, the electorate asserted that they were seek and tired of trading with their own destiny and the future of their children in exchange of a pot of soup.
Mrs. Mariah Otobo, who is armed with her Permanent Voter Card (PVC) said the voting pattern in 2027 would not be business as usual, noting that her vote would not be determined by the highest bidder.
“This time, we are going to teach many politicians a bitter lesson. Many of us have resolved. If they bring the money, we will collect it and still vote the candidates that we like.
“How long will we allow ourselves to be deceived by these politicians. Why is it that it is only during elections time that they will know that we are existing?
“Why have they not been giving us money since they won the last election? There is a saying that “a fool at forty is a fool forever.” I am already above forty years, so, l don’t want to remain a fool,” she said.
Mr. Joshua Ogheneovo recalled that the recently conducted Osun State governorship election has set the tone for a decisive action for every electorate ahead of the 2027 election.
“Did you not see what happened in the Osun State governorship election? Are you not aware that some parties paid up to N50,000 per vote but still lost? That is the new trend.
“Nigerians have declared “operation collect the money and vote your choice.” Many of the vote buyers will regret this it time because we can’t be fooled all the time.
“If you think you have so much money but you can’t give it to me all these years of hardship and you feel that election time is the best time to bring a token from what you have stolen from us, I will gladly collect it, but you won’t see my vote.
“This should be the mindset of every electorate going into the lections. If we show them pepper this time, those who win will know that it is better to focus on good governance than to try to buy people’s conscience with a cup of rice and garri,” he added.
Miss Alice Timipre, a student, also towed the same line of discourse, saying if any candidates brought money to her during the electioneering processes, she would happily collect it but would not allow her conscience to be bought over.
