The Senior Pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, has said elections in Nigeria are being monetized to the highest bidders.
Pastor Giwa said electoral officers are being used to “select” and not as umpires superintending over the election of leaders.
He spoke with newsmen in reaction to the outcome of the Edo State governorship election that produced Monday Okpebholo as governor-elect.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of last Saturday’s election.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta said Okpebholo garnered 291,667 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo polled 247,274 votes.
But in his reaction to the contest around the just concluded election, Pastor Giwa said, “Elections in Nigeria are now being monetized, while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission are writing figures for the highest bidder.
“It is unfortunate that Nigeria finds herself in this mess. I hardly believe that there is an election again in Nigeria.
“What is happening in the nation’s electoral system now is “selection,” not an election.
“If this continues to happen, then I am sorry for what will befall Nigeria after the current generation.
“Politicians themselves are the ones voting. Nigerians who don’t belong to any political party are not interested in voting anymore.
“That’s exactly what these crop of politicians want so that they can continue to rig themselves into offices.”