Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State, has described electoral fraud as the “worst crime” in a democracy.
The Edo senator made the remarks on Monday during an interview on News Central’s Politics HQ while discussing the slow pace of Nigeria’s electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general election.
Oshiomhole recalled his 2012 re-election victory, stressing that he won across all 18 local government areas without inducing voters.
“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.
“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.”
The former labour leader said that credible elections are at the heart of democratic value and legitimacy.
“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.
The Edo senator noted that Nigeria’s electoral laws already outline punishments for vote buying and the deliberate distortion of results.
“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.
“And the penalty is not only monetary, but also a penalty for jail. On the side of INEC officials, there are penalties. On the side of the candidates, there are also penalties.”
