Is it a Bye-Election or a Buy-Election? I Cry for Nigeria – Fadojoe
By Our Reporter
Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, popularly known as Fadojoe, has expressed deep disappointment over the conduct of the just-concluded bye-elections held on Saturday, August 16, across 12 states of the federation.
The former Labour Party presidential aspirant and founder of the Rescue Movement for New Nigeria said in a viral video that what transpired during the polls was nothing short of a “national shame.”
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over 3.5 million registered voters were expected to participate in the exercise, which covered 32 local government areas, 356 registration areas, and 6,987 polling units. The elections were to fill vacant seats in State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, and the Senate.
But Fadojoe lamented that instead of hope and real change, vote-buying once again defined the process.
“My fellow Nigerians, I cry for my country. We say we want change, yet we keep selling our future for ₦1,000, ₦2,000, ₦5,000,” he said.
He noted that many Nigerians still complain about bad leadership, corruption, and hardship, but continue to trade their votes to the very politicians responsible for their suffering. According to him, politicians no longer see the need to campaign or present credible manifestos, but simply storm polling units with “bags of stolen money.”
“You collect money from them today, and tomorrow they use the same power you gave them to keep you in hardship,” he added.
Fadojoe stressed that no country in the world has ever developed when its people willingly participate in corruption. He argued that politicians keep exploiting the system because they know many voters are for sale.
“We’re all guilty. When you take that money, you’ve collected your share of the stolen national cake and you’ve sold your right to demand for better,” he said.
The activist insisted that the bye-election was a missed opportunity for Nigerians to speak out and elect credible lawmakers capable of checking the excesses of the executive and judiciary, and bringing balance to the system.
He also chided young people for failing to translate their online activism into real political action.
“We want reform, we want change, but we stay at home while others, most times uneducated and easily manipulated, go out and sell their votes,” he said.
Fadojoe urged Nigerians to wake up and realize that real reform begins with their votes. He emphasized that every election, not just the presidential one, is crucial in reshaping the country’s destiny.
“We must rescue Nigeria. We must build a country we can be proud of. That rescue starts with the people. Stop selling your vote. Stand up and vote. That’s the only way forward,” he concluded.
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