Myson Nejo, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, has expressed concerns over the alleged vote trading that occurred during the Ondo State election.
Nejo, who secured 4,138 votes and finished in third place, claims he lost the race due to his refusal to participate in vote-buying, a practice he condemns as unethical.
In a statement made on Sunday, Nejo expressed his dissatisfaction with the election process, pointing out that the winners of the election were those who could afford to purchase votes from the electorate.
He claimed that the vote-buying was rampant, with votes being exchanged for as much as N20,000 in some areas, including his own polling unit where votes were reportedly sold for N10,000 to N15,000.
Despite the financial advantage of his rivals, Nejo maintained that he was satisfied with his campaign, emphasizing his ethical stance throughout the process.
“I thank the good people of Ondo State for voting for me. Without giving them any money, they still voted for me. I want to believe that my vote is a valid vote because there was nothing like vote-buying or any unethical practices on my side. So far, I want to believe I’m a winner in this election,” Nejo said.
Nejo’s campaign had a no-money-policy, and he firmly rejected calls from voters asking for financial incentives in exchange for their support.
“People were calling me, asking for money in exchange for their votes, but I stood my ground. If they want to vote, they should vote. I wasn’t going to give a kobo to buy votes,” he stated, reflecting his commitment to running a clean, transparent campaign.
While he did not secure a victory in the race, Nejo remained resolute in his belief that his values and principles were more important than electoral success gained through dubious means.