Your Vote is your citizenship right Don't sell it.

Vote selling is a cankerworm which has eaten deep into the marrows of most citizens, and has birthed bad governance. Vote selling is  when a voter agrees to vote or not, or vote for or against a candidate, in exchange for money or anything valuable from another person.

Are there consequences for selling your votes?

Of course, there are consequences associated with vote selling and one could write a whole note on that. Vote selling is a total manipulation, and it has downplayed democracy as a system of government, as a true democracy gives people the right to vote in their favorite candidate, and not be manipulated in any way.

Secondly, the elected candidates are not the true representatives of the people; a candidate with fat bank account wins. Stealing of public funds will clearly be visible as those who paid their way into the elective offices would often get their money back in one way or the other. Furthermore, square pegs in round holes types of leaders are more likely to be elected. Nigeria is yet to recover from this shock.

How can we put an end to this menace that has eaten deep into the souls of the citizens - our beloved country?

Though, the rate of vote buying and selling is on the increase, there are still various ways to prevent it from happening. Our security agencies should not condone the act of vote selling and buying, as there is a provision somewhere in the Electoral Act that criminalizes it. 

Again the polling officials have been trained to ensure that voters vote and leave the scene peacefully, but now we can see them allowing party agents to stay close to the polling booth, so they can see whom they voted for. So, the polling officials have a role to play to prevent vote buying, with the support of security agencies. Furthermore, vote buying should be seen as a national emergency which requires the involvement of traditional and religious institutions.  Also, the involvement of civil societal groups and the media should enlighten the citizens about the adverse effects of vote selling on the future of our dear nation.

Vote selling can be a nightmare, but there are things we can do to prevent it. Hopefully, one day, citizens can go out and vote for their preferable candidate without being manipulated.