An elderly man who was arrested on Saturday morning by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) has said that his party tried to induce electorates to vote.
The man, who identified himself as Professor Ifedioranma Nwaana, was arrested and taken away by DSS officials for allegedly buying votes at a polling unit located at Community Primary School, Amawbia in Awka, Anambra State capital.
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Nwanna, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said his party had reasonably convinced the people during the campaign to vote for its candidate and incumbent governor, Wille Obiano.
“If we were to induce people to vote for APGA, we would have done so during the campaign and we did that well; I’m not denying that,” he told Channels Television shortly after he was released.
“I’m a retired university teacher and I want to take part in ensuring that things are done well in Nigeria, but I belong to a political party – APGA.
“We tried to induce people and convince them to vote for APGA because I am convinced about APGA, I did all I could to make sure that people voted for APGA but not on the election day.”
He said APGA persuaded voters “by explanation, by everything that is required”, but when asked whether they also shared money, he said: “I don’t know, that’s not what Channels TV should ask me – that’s for politics and we played the politics well.”
The retired lecturer, however, denied claims that he was at the polling unit with money to entice residents who have come to exercise their franchise.
He admitted that about N300,000 was in his car but argued that it was not meant to be distributed to voters but for payment of APGA agents who he said have been working tirelessly for the party.
“I’m sorry, it is not correct (that he brought the money to the polling unit). Maybe somebody told him that and he believed – he (the DSS official) cannot say that he saw me giving anybody money because I have not given anybody money,” Nwanna said.
“I brought money here, my party said we should pay our agents a certain amount of allowance for doing the job because they will be standing under the sun.
“As one of the old stakeholders in the ward and whom they can trust, they (the party leaders) say I should have the money and come and pay those boys, and that is the money I still have.”
“They asked me what I had the money for and I explained to them. I didn’t give anybody money. The money was in the car, if I come here and find out that they are doing the job, I will go and give them the money. It’s for my party agents, not for anybody,” he reiterated.
