Former Edo State governor and senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has described electoral fraud as the “worst crime” in a democratic system, warning that vote buying and the manipulation of election outcomes erode the will of the people.
Oshiomhole made the remarks on Monday during an interview on News Central’s Politics HQ, while speaking on delays surrounding Nigeria’s electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general election.
Reflecting on his 2012 re-election in Edo State, Oshiomhole said he secured victory across all 18 local government areas without engaging in vote buying.
“My 2012 re-election in Edo State, I won in all the 18 local government areas. I did not give money to anybody,” he said.
He explained that he had clearly informed voters at the time that he would not participate in the practice.
“Instead, I told the voters, if my opponent, who allegedly had money to give you, you can collect it, no receipt, no refund. But I have no money to give you, but I will give you my all in terms of development,” Oshiomhole said.
The senator stressed that credible elections are fundamental to the essence of democracy.
“So, I think it is about people recognising that the worst crime you can commit is to cheat on elections, because the beauty of democracy is to have that inner feeling that, of the number of the people in your constituency, that out of over two hundred million people, you have been chosen by the state to apply their resources in a creative manner to deliver the greatest good to the greatest number,” he said.
Oshiomhole noted that Nigeria’s electoral laws already spell out sanctions for vote buying and result manipulation.
“On vote buying, there are penalties. We’ve made provision for it. There are penalties for a presiding officer who willfully acts in a manner that undermines the will of the electorate or twists or destroys the ballot sheet in a manner as to turn the outcome in favour of the loser,” he said.
He added that the sanctions are not limited to financial penalties.
“And the penalty is not only monetary, but also a penalty for jail,” Oshiomhole said.
The former labour leader further stated that the law applies to all actors involved in electoral malpractice.
“On the side of INEC officials, there are penalties. On the side of the candidates, there are also penalties,” he added.