By Tgnews Reporter, Abuja
In a stark critique of electoral malpractices sweeping the continent, former Nigerian Senator Shehu Sani has decried the growing scourge of “food for votes,” labeling it a “deadly bargain” that undermines Africa’s democratic fabric. Sani’s remarks come amid viral videos from Cameroon’s ongoing presidential election campaign, where supporters of long-ruling President Paul Biya are allegedly distributing meager handouts; sandwiches, sardines, soft drinks, and small cash amounts—to secure voter loyalty ahead of the October 12 poll.
“When I watched a video footage of food and money shared to the electorates for the Cameroonian elections, I then realised it’s now becoming a continental pandemic,” Sani stated, highlighting how such inducements erode the integrity of elections across Africa.
The practice, often involving trivial items like a loaf of bread or a few dollars equivalent in local currency, preys on poverty and desperation, turning citizens into unwitting accomplices in perpetuating corrupt leadership.
Sani, a prominent human rights activist and Pan-Africanist known for his outspoken stance on governance issues, drew parallels to similar vote-buying tactics observed in Nigeria and elsewhere. In past Nigerian elections, he noted, old naira notes were used to pay voters small sums, targeting vulnerable groups like poor women in urban and rural areas.
This “bargain,” he argued, not only corrupts the ballot but also entrenches hunger and inequality, as leaders who buy power with peanuts fail to deliver meaningful development, leaving electorates trapped in cycles of poverty until the next election cycle.
The issue resonates continent-wide, with similar patterns reported in Senegal’s delayed polls and historical cases in Nigeria and Ivory Coast, where economic vulnerability is weaponized by incumbents to maintain power.
Sani’s warning underscores a broader “pandemic” where short-term gains blind voters to long-term suffering, threatening the continent’s democratic progress. As Africa’s youth bulge demands accountability, activists like Sani call for education, stricter electoral laws, and economic empowerment to combat this insidious practice.
