SECURITY OPERATIVES NAP VOTE BUYER IN KADUNA WITH ₦25.9 MILLION CASH

Kaduna police foil vote-buying plot, arrest suspect with ₦25.9m cash.

Vote buying Nigeria Arrest Security operatives Election Democracy.

Kaduna security operatives have made a significant breakthrough in maintaining the integrity of the electoral process, arresting a suspected vote buyer in possession of ₦25,963,000.

The successful operation, carried out by the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), resulted in the apprehension of Shehu Aliyu Patangi at a hotel along Turunku Road in Kaduna metropolis.

According to the Kaduna State Police Command, preliminary investigations revealed that the large sum of money was intended to compromise the electoral process. However, thanks to the vigilance and prompt action of the security operatives, this attempt at vote buying was thwarted.

Police spokesman, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the arrest, praising the efforts of the security team. “The suspect was arrested with the said amount, believed to have been earmarked for bribing voters. He confessed to the crime and begged for mercy.”

Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, commended his team for their dedication to ensuring a free and fair electoral process. “The suspect's arrest is a testament to our commitment to upholding the integrity of the elections. We will continue to work tirelessly to prevent any attempts to undermine the democratic process.”

The police command has also warned that anyone found engaging in vote buying, thuggery, violence, or any illegal act aimed at subverting the polls will face the full wrath of the law. With the elections underway, security agencies have deployed personnel to polling units, collation centres, and other strategic flashpoints across the state to ensure a peaceful and secure environment for citizens to exercise their civic duty.

While this arrest is being celebrated as a win for law enforcement, it raises deeper questions about the health of Nigeria’s democracy. If vote buying with such staggering sums of money continues to be a recurrent feature of elections, what does that say about the value of the democratic process itself?

Nigeria has prided itself on building a democracy where the people’s votes should matter, but the repeated incidents of electoral malpractice suggest otherwise. The very fact that ₦25.9 million could be set aside to influence voters highlights the extent to which political actors are willing to subvert the will of the people. If the electorate can be swayed with cash, can we truly say Nigeria is practicing democracy, or is it democracy in name only?

The incident in Kaduna is not an isolated event; it is part of a troubling trend. With every election cycle, stories of vote buying, intimidation, and electoral manipulation emerge, only to be met with temporary outrage and little systemic reform.

Suppose urgent steps are not taken to strengthen institutions, punish offenders, and promote voter education. In that case, the 2027 elections may well see an even more brazen display of financial inducement and electoral corruption. Arrests alone will not solve the problem. There must be political will at the highest levels to confront the culture of vote buying, which has become entrenched in Nigeria’s electoral process.

As Nigerians look ahead, this incident should serve as a wake-up call: democracy cannot thrive when votes are sold, when cash overshadows conscience, and when money rather than ideas dictates electoral choices. The true test of Nigeria’s democracy will be whether such practices can be eradicated before 2027, or whether the cycle of corruption continues unchecked.

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SECURITY OPERATIVES NAP VOTE BUYER IN KADUNA WITH ₦25.9 MILLION CASH

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