The recent confession of Senator Olalere Oyewumi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has sparked outrage among Nigerians. In a viral video, Oyewumi, who represents Osun West District and serves as the Deputy Minority Senate Leader, admitted to buying votes during the 2023 General Election.
Oyewumi revealed that he had sent his aide to buy votes with his personal money on the eve of the election, but was rejected by strong supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He expressed surprise at the rejection, stating that he had exhausted his funds on the election and was desperate to win.
Speaking in Yoruba, the Minority Leader, who represents Osun West District, said “I tried all the tricks I knew to win at the Onilu House (lie Onilu) polling unit, but these people didn’t allow me.
“After exhausting money for the election, I gave my personal money to Ten-Ten to give to people at night to buy votes on the eve of the election, Ten- Ten came back with my money, saying the people rejected it. I was surprised.
“That was why I reached out to these people because I cannot be a Senator and continue to fail there. I was the one who called Ayandosu from Abuja to join me in the PDP. I told him he has talent and that the party he was serving then (APC) would not allow him to grow.”
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the confession, with its state chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, stating that the election was not free and fair. Lawal called for Oyewumi’s removal from the Senate, saying that his actions were a criminal offense and that he should be investigated by law enforcement agencies.
Nigerians have also taken to social media to express their outrage, with many calling for Oyewumi’s imprisonment. “You should be in jail,” said one user, while another stated, “This is a clear case of electoral fraud. He must face the consequences.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had deployed officials to polling units during the election to combat vote buying, which was a major challenge facing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Oyewumi’s confession has raised questions about the integrity of the election and the role of politicians in undermining the democratic process. As the backlash continues to grow, it remains to be seen whether Oyewumi will face any consequences for his actions.
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